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PLA Daily

PLA Daily
The latest news and top stories on PLA Daily. A Beijing-based governmental publication, PLA Daily is the official newspaper of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). It is dedicated to serving as the military’s mouthpiece, indoctrinating troops and projecting its voice into public policy. Its main areas of focus include reporting on military affairs, promoting modernisation and highlighting the PLA’s contributions.
The PLA carries out joint naval and air drills around Scarborough Shoal on August 1, days after the Philippines filed its official ​nautical chart for the disputed South China Sea feature with the United Nations. Photo: Handout
South China Sea

‘Rich and powerful options in South China Sea toolbox’: Beijing warns Manila

Strongly worded PLA Daily article is latest in a series of countermeasures as Scarborough Shoal row flares, including military drills.

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South China Sea

PLA and coastguards hold South China Sea drills days after Philippine seabed bid

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China-Japan relations

China’s military mouthpiece issues full-page warning on Japan’s drone power

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China-Japan relations

Japan’s latest live-fire drill is about offence, not defence: PLA Daily

Tokyo’s forces will become ‘more offensive, more dangerous and more oriented towards actual combat’, Chinese military mouthpiece says.

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A Japan Ground Self-Defence Force soldier operates a quadrupedal uncrewed ground vehicle during a live-fire exercise in Gotemba on June 7. Photo: AFP
SpaceX

China’s military mouthpiece cites SpaceX role in warning of satellite arms race

Official newspaper cites Elon Musk’s firm as an example of how the US is rapidly speeding up the military use of low-orbit satellites.

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China's military weapons

China’s military warned against ‘dangers of AI sycophancy’ on the battlefield

PLA mouthpiece calls for action to counter the ‘severe threat’ of artificial intelligence models altering the facts to match user biases.

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China’s Communist Party

China’s top military officials face ‘ironclad’ rules in anti-corruption fight

Measures cover education, management and supervision of senior cadres and coincide with emphasis on study of Xi Jinping Thought.

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President Xi Jinping’s sweeping campaign to clean up corruption has gutted the senior ranks of the world’s second largest military. Photo: Xinhua
China-Japan relations

Why does the PLA object to Japan’s drone plans for its southern islands?

Tokyo says it’s building a coastal defence system but Beijing sees an offensive purpose in the deployment.

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Artificial intelligence

Iran war shows ‘strategic value’ of AI for China’s military, PLA Daily says

Commentary calls it ‘inevitable’ and necessary for PLA to embrace artificial intelligence to gain the advantage in future warfare.

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China-Japan relations

Japan warship’s Taiwan Strait voyage reignites China tensions

The JS Ikazuchi passed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday, the anniversary of an 1895 treaty handing Taiwan to Japan.

The JS Ikazuchi. Photo: handout
China-Japan relations

Is Japan’s treaty-day Taiwan Strait warship transit a new flashpoint with China?

The JS Ikazuchi’s passage through the waterway on Friday ‘harmed the feelings of the Chinese people’.

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The JS Ikazuchi passed through the Taiwan Strait on the anniversary of the 895 Treaty of Shimonoseki or Treaty of Maguan. Photo: Handout
Communist Party politics

Are China’s TV dramas obsessed with beauty? An industry regulator thinks so

A national watchdog says there should be more to productions than physical appearances.

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China-Japan relations

Japan has enough plutonium to make 5,500 nuclear warheads, PLA Daily says

China’s military mouthpiece claims Tokyo has ‘astonishing’ stockpile of nuclear materials and the tech to produce weapons.

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China-Japan relations

China slams Japan’s ‘kill network’ as long-range missile deployment looms

PLA Daily describes upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles as offensive weapons capable of targeting neighbouring countries.

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A Japanese Type-12 surface-to-ship missile is launched by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force at Beecroft Weapons Range near Jervis Bay, Australia, on July 22, 2025. Photo: Australian Department of Defence via AP
Two Sessions 2026

Language as a weapon? PLA academics seek training overhaul, cite Ukraine war

Digitised battlefields demand new breed of soldier, as skilled at data analysis and psy-ops as at wielding a weapon, veteran instructor says.

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Coordinated push from military academics reflects a broader recognition within China’s defence establishment as the People’s Liberation Army’s global footprint expands. Photo: Reuters
China’s military

After Zhang Youxia’s downfall, PLA told to be more mindful of spending

State media also spotlights deep flaws in PLA’s readiness that have surfaced during country’s widening anti-corruption drive.

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China’s Communist Party

China’s military command tightens discipline at the top in generals’ wake

Revised rules are meant to close loopholes, PLA mouthpiece says, two weeks after Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli’s downfall.

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China’s military drills

China’s military cracks down on training ‘fakery’ after Zhang Youxia’s ousting

PLA plans to crack down on ‘fakery that undermines combat capability’, soon after top generals placed under corruption investigation.

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The PLA plans to tackle “deep-seated problems” with its training and drills. Photo: Xinhua
Corruption in China

China’s military redoubles corruption fight in wake of Zhang Youxia’s downfall

PLA mouthpiece warns troops not to be blindly optimistic or totally pessimistic about winning the war against graft.

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China’s Communist Party

Why China’s swift ousting of Zhang Youxia is a warning from Xi on party purity

Seemingly risky move to oust two generals ahead of Communist Party congress and PLA centenary sends a message about anti-corruption drive.

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China's military weapons

Chinese military tightens review of weapons pricing to fight corruption

CMC Equipment Development Department releases new rules amid push for quality equipment and ‘professional ethics’.

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New procurement rules for the Chinese military dictate that troops should receive weapons and equipment that are combat-oriented, high quality and offer advanced performance. Photo: Xinhua
SCMP Highlights

US pulls missile system from Japan, EV fires fan fears: SCMP daily highlights

From tensions over Taiwan to YouTuber Hasan Piker’s controversial China tour, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

The US has conducted multiple tests of the Typhon system, which includes four trailer-based launchers and supporting equipment capable of firing both Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles. Photo: Reuters
China’s military drills

China’s Fujian carrier completes first training shortly after entering service

‘First maritime live-force training’ since November 5 commissioning comes at a time of growing tensions with Japan over Taiwan comments.

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China-Latin America relations

China’s military mouthpiece hits out at US ‘gunboat diplomacy’ over Venezuela

Commentary in PLA Daily says Washington’s military build-up in the Caribbean is ‘trying to promote regime change’.

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China travel

491,000 Japan-bound air tickets cancelled as China warns people to avoid travel

Lost ticket revenue could be in the billions of yuan, analyst says, as carriers brace for short-term capacity shifts if diplomatic tensions fail to ease.

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An aviation analyst said Shanghai-Tokyo and Shanghai-Osaka flights have been most affected in recent days by cancellations stemming from a diplomatic dispute between China and Japan. Photo: Xinhua
China-Japan relations

No plan for Japan-China meeting at G20 as Taiwan Strait row deepens

Beijing says Premier Li Qiang has not arranged talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

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A commentary in People’s Daily on Monday condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on potentially intervening in a Taiwan conflict. Photo: AP
China-Japan relations

Airlines offer Japan trip refunds as row over Takaichi’s Taiwan comments deepens

Air China, China Southern and China Eastern among seven carriers to offer refunds hours after Beijing urges nationals to avoid Japan trips.

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China's military weapons

China’s military paper urges ‘deep integration’ to beat joint operation weakness

PLA Daily urges stronger synergy across combat elements and weapon platforms, highlights key role of cyber-information systems in warfare.

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