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China's military weapons

China's military weapons
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.
Open Questions series

Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong

Mainland China’s Wu Yongping on what the Xi-Trump summit means for Taiwan

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Zheng Yongnian on what US’ ‘neocolonialism’, Venezuela operation mean for China

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Liu Qian on Chinese innovation, the US rivalry and women holding up half the sky

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

Fuchsia Dunlop tells how she fell for China’s cuisine and names her perfect dish

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

80 years on from WWII, China’s interests lie in peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended

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Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Chinese researchers have envisaged how uncrewed surface vessels could patrol distant waters and around near-sea islands and reefs. Photo: Xinhua
South China Sea

Can AI-assisted unmanned vessels be Beijing’s answer to South China Sea patrols?

Near-silent autonomous surveillance vessels that can keep going for months on end recommended for Chinese maritime enforcement.

UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

Underwater anti-mine technology takes centre stage at Chinese defence show

China-Japan relations

Are China and Russia flexing their maritime muscle near Japan?

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India-Pakistan tensions

China confirms it helped Pakistan’s air force during last year’s war with India

Engineers tell state media they offered technical support during conflict that saw an Indian-owned Rafale downed by a Chinese-made fighter.

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Pakistan is the only known operator of Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets outside China. Photo: AFP
India-Pakistan tensions

Chinese J-35 stealth jets set to give Pakistan a strategic edge over India

India has a much larger fleet of 4.5-generation fighters but is lagging behind Pakistan in the acquisition of stealth warplanes.

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Artificial intelligence

Private firms can help stop sanctions ‘strangling’ China’s military: general

The authorities should give companies a greater voice in civilian-military collaboration, PLA Major General Zhang Zhan argues.

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Mainland China

Does YJ-20 hypersonic sea-based missile give China an edge over US carriers?

The highly manoeuvrable weapon is nearly invulnerable to interception and could sink an aircraft carrier with a single hit.

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The Chinese military’s formidable YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile launches from a Type 055 destroyer. Photo: Handout
US, Israel war on Iran

Will new Saudi-Pakistan defence pact give Chinese arms risk-free exposure?

Islamabad’s elevated stature in Middle East security could make it ‘the operational face of Chinese defence systems’ via regional deployment.

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UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

China unveils new naval defence systems as drones change nature of war at sea

The PLA has been working to improve its defences after the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East highlighted the threat of anti-ship drones.

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AVIC

Has China given the first sign it’s ready to export J-35A fighter to Pakistan?

State media shows J-35A model bearing AVIC logo rolling out of the hangar, the English lettering hinting it is an export model.

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A J-35A fighter jet appeared on Chinese state television on May 1, fuelling speculation it is a variant set for export to Pakistan. Photo: CCTV
Mainland China

Pakistan commissions first Chinese submarine in ‘historic milestone’ for navy

President and naval chief attend ceremony in Sanya for the advanced Hangor-class vessel as the two countries step up defence cooperation.

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The Chinese-built Hangor-class submarine was commissioned at a ceremony in Sanya, Hainan province on Thursday. Photo: Weibo/电波震长空XYY
Taiwan

Why Beijing’s weaponised cargo ship could be crucial in the Taiwan Strait

Beijing’s ‘containerised destroyer’ can carry missile launchers and hide within commercial shipping lanes, military magazine says.

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US-China relations

Trump’s Golden Dome targets China’s ‘hypersonic weapons, cruise missiles’

US president’s US$185 billion missile defence shield to counter Chinese, Russian missile arsenals, a senior Pentagon official told Congress.

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Hypersonic missiles and weapons

PLA showcases YJ-20 anti-ship missiles as US-Japan-Philippines test war moves

Video of PLA Navy strike tests emerges as US, allies take part in Balikatan 2026, marking Japan’s first-ever operational role in the drills.

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China’s YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile system has a range of 1,000 to 1,500km, a cruising speed of around Mach 6 and a terminal dive speed reaching Mach 10. Photo: Handout
China’s military

Did China just hint that its next aircraft carrier will be nuclear-powered?

A video released to mark the PLA Navy’s anniversary uses wordplay to suggest that a new warship is under construction.

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The film features a young sailor named He Jian, a pun on the words for nuclear ship. Photo: CCTV
G7

G7 ‘concerned’ at Russia and China’s nuclear build-up

The remarks come ahead of a month-long conference to revise the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

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China’s military drills

China stages navy drill as US and Philippines embark on Balikatan 2026

The Liaoning aircraft carrier appears to be among 14 large naval vessels snapped on manoeuvres in a satellite image circulating online.

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Canada

PLA’s new Type 076 ‘drone carrier’ set for South China Sea training drills

China’s next-level amphibious warship, the Sichuan, in same waters where US, Japan and the Philippines are conducting joint military exercises.

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China’s first drone-carrying Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, on its maiden sea trial last November. Photo: CCTV
US-China relations

US must make more bombers, bring China in on nuclear arms talks: senator

Republican Deb Fischer, whose subcommittee oversees US nuclear arsenal, insisted Beijing must be part of any future treaty negotiations.

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Science

Is this ‘paper antenna’ China’s gateway to widespread naval adoption of 5G?

Paper-based antenna devised by Chinese team is positioned as a low-cost, scalable ‘last-mile’ communication solution.

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Drones

How the PLA may use stealth drones in a swarming boat attack from Taiwan

Beijing could send in GJ-21s – which have long endurance and high manoeuvrability – to counter uncrewed combat boats, military magazine says.

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A GJ-21 stealth drone pictured on the deck of the Sichuan amphibious landing ship. Photo: Handout
Taiwan

Could the PLA use minelaying drones in a blockade over Taiwan?

Japan’s islands and the waters of the Philippines could be targeted in a cross-strait operation, according to military magazine.

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The torpedo-shaped AJX002 drone was revealed during the Victory Day military parade in Beijing in September. Photo: AP
Middle East

Will South Korea’s ‘Goldilocks’ missile dent China’s Middle East arms ambitions?

The Cheongung-II has reportedly achieved a 96.7% intercept rate against Iranian drones and ballistic missiles.

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US-China relations

US warns of China’s ‘invasion rehearsals’ as Trump seeks record military budget

Washington puts spotlight on Beijing’s Taiwan, space operations during hearing on US military’s combat readiness for next year.

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China’s military

Chinese rocket force scientist Major General Feng Yufang dies aged 63

Feng advocated for self-reliance, once saying ‘core technologies cannot be bought and relying on imports will not get us far’.

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Chinese state media announced on Tuesday that Major General Feng Yufang, a leading missile scientist with the PLA Rocket Force, had died aged 63. Photo: Handout
Mainland China

Move over, Hercules: China’s new Y-30 aims to outmuscle America’s best

PLA’s four-engine turboprop described as outperforming US counterpart in engine power, payload capacity, structure and material.

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The Y-30 is powered by four domestically made AEP-500 turboprop engines. Photo: Weibo
Drones

Indonesian fisherman nets surprise catch – a Chinese underwater drone

The device was discovered near the Lombok Strait, a strategically vital deepwater passage closely watched by the US and Australia.

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Mainland China

China unveils handheld coil gun that works like a ‘less deadly’ pistol

The electromagnetic weapon is designed for stealth operations, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

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