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Latest news, features and opinion on the military in China, including the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the development of warships, aircraft carriers and fighter jets, spending on the armed forces and reforms and modernisation. US-China and mainland-Taiwan military tensions and the deployment of China’s armed forces overseas are also covered.
Announcement from the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command comes a day after the end of annual US-Philippine Balikatan drills in the area.
New Delhi isn’t ‘overly concerned’ by the development, analysts say – unless Dhaka decides to grant access to Chinese warships and submarines.
Researchers are creating an AI system that can explain its decisions, amid the intense US-China AI arms race.
AI-controlled F-16s seen as likely to give the US an edge with their better manoeuvrability, though observers say it might be years before they appear in combat.
In a letter to the navy and air force chiefs, 13 Congress members said ‘China can attack all US bases in the region’, demanding the Pentagon boost passive defences.
Taiwan’s authorities may have limited options in enforcing rules, with tougher action potentially escalating into unintended cross-strait conflict, say analysts.
Weapons sales, security cooperation ‘destined to increase’, experts say, as China opens ‘new chapter’ in Serbian ties.
Bilateral army drills in the Gobi Desert are a first between the two neighbours.
The ‘routine’ operation on Wednesday passed without incident but comes as independence-leaning Lai heads to May 20 presidential inauguration.
The 25th anniversary of the ‘humiliating’ air strike is marked with a promise from Xi Jinping that it will never be forgotten.
The country’s most advanced aircraft carrier achieves ‘expected results’ in eight-day test of its power and electrical systems, Xinhua reports.
The rocket army veteran’s name on a funeral wreath is a small but significant sign in an opaque system where indirect appearances matter.
Foreign ministry says PLA aircraft warned off an Australian helicopter that was ‘disrupting’ a Chinese exercise.
‘They shouldn’t have been at any risk’, Anthony Albanese said of Australian defence personnel who he said were operating in international airspace enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea.
The Fujian aircraft carrier’s maiden mission has been deliberately timed to coincide with US-Philippines military drills, analysts say.
Coastguards based in Fujian have been increasingly active around the Taipei-held island since an incident when two fishermen died in February.
No aircraft were visible on the carrier’s deck in official images and videos, with testing of its electromagnetic launch catapults expected in later trials.
The warship is China’s first to use an advanced electromagnetic catapult that allows fighters to be launched more frequently.
Contract for Hangor-class vessels was signed in 2015 during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Senior Colonel Zhou Bo shares his insights on global and regional challenges, based on long experience in military diplomacy.
Agreement on inter-theatre cooperation and dialogue mechanism with PLA comes as France joins US-Philippine drills in contested South China Sea waters.
A shortage of domestic industrial capacity and concerns about China’s dominance are behind courting of Asian allies’ shipyards, analysts say.
‘Our interaction is important for strategic stability on the planet,’ Dong Jun says after meeting with Sergey Shoigu; both chiefs back continued military cooperation.
Central Asian region faces ‘complex’ security situation, Chinese defence minister says in meeting with Kazakh president in Astana.
While visiting Chongqing’s Army Medical University, Xi says China needs ‘new generation of red military doctors’ and stresses importance of improved training, logistical support and specialised battlefield medicine as Beijing steps up war readiness.
Head of US space command warns that China’s space development is make its terrestrial forces ‘more precise, more lethal and more far ranging’.