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The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

The latest news and top stories on the People’s Liberation Army. A prominent Beijing-based governmental body, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the unified military organisation of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. Its primary mission involves defending national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the Party’s interests, alongside protecting overseas interests and promoting global peace. The PLA, comprising ground, naval, air, rocket, aerospace, cyberspace and information support forces, is recognised as the world’s largest military. It plays a crucial role in national defence, internal security, disaster relief and international peacekeeping, continually modernising its technology and capabilities.

A PLA Daily article says some Chinese military units have not done enough personnel-equipment integration and some have not devoted enough effort to cultivating specialised talent. Photo: Xinhua

China’s military drills

Can PLA training catch up with China’s rapid weapon development?

‘No matter how advanced the equipment is, if people cannot effectively operate it, it remains nothing more than cold steel’: PLA Daily.

3 hours agovideocam

China-Japan relations

Are China and Russia flexing their maritime muscle near Japan?

8 May 2026 - 7:00PM

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

Video | Chinese military officers target of new CIA video

13 Feb 2026 - 5:02PM

US-China relations

CIA targets Chinese military officers in new recruitment video

US spy agency’s outreach, depicting a disillusioned mid-level officer, risks unsettling fragile calm before April’s Trump-XI summit.

13 Feb 2026 - 7:07PMvideocam

The CIA ‌rolled out a video on Thursday in a bid to recruit military informants in China. Image: CIA via YouTube

China’s military

Xi’s new year greeting reveals PLA Cyberspace Force post in South China Sea

Analyst says deployment signals Chinese military’s cyber warfare capabilities ‘are no longer confined to the mainland’.

12 Feb 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

China's military weapons

J-35 jet maker flexes production muscle, pledging to double output in 5 years

New video shows stealth fighter on the runway at SAC in Liaoning as state media says factory will be part of ‘Shenyang Aerospace City’.

9 Jan 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

US-Venezuela conflict

Opinion | US invasion of Venezuela no guarantee of hemispheric dominance

By signalling how far it will go to defend its interests in Venezuela, the US might have intensified conflicts closer to home rather than resolving them.

8 Jan 2026 - 9:32PMvideocam

Ousted president Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela (second from right) and his wife Cilia Flores (second from left) arrive at the Wall Street Heliport in the New York City borough of Manhattan on January 5. Photo: TNS

Taiwan

Video | PLA conducts second day of drills around Taiwan

Troops simulate attacks on maritime targets and conduct anti-air and anti-submarine operations to the north and south of the island.

30 Dec 2025 - 4:45PM

Open Questions series

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel on Taiwan, the Ukraine war, China-US ties

Zhou Bo ponders Japanese PM Takaichi’s recent remarks, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and why China won’t be world’s policeman.

28 Nov 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

South China Sea

Opinion | How does China’s modernising navy stack up against the US seventh fleet?

Between what the US can sustain in the region vs what China can concentrate near its shores, the calculation increasingly favours Beijing.

17 Nov 2025 - 6:51AMvideocam

Alibaba

Alibaba slams FT report on alleged PLA ties as ‘completely false’, ‘malicious’

The report appears to undermine the recent bilateral trade talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

15 Nov 2025 - 4:51PM

China's military weapons

China’s Pacific power takes strategic leap with new carrier

The commissioning of the Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, extends the nation’s reach into the Pacific, provided it can overcome the challenges of operating a blue-water navy.

10 Nov 2025 - 5:03PM

US-China relations

US Space Force to use 3 weapons to jam Chinese satellites via remote control

The Meadowlands and Remote Sensing Terminals will be joining the US military’s Counter Communications System jammer.

5 Nov 2025 - 1:35AM

Taiwan

No major PLA activity near Taiwan after ‘troublemaker’ Lai’s policy speech

Taiwanese defence ministry figures show no increase in the number of warplanes and warships near the island since October 10.

19 Oct 2025 - 11:25PMvideocam

Taiwan

Chinese spy drama Silent Honour inspires praise for real-life agents

‘Sudden surge’ of visitors to memorial park and one agent’s family home comes as series about mainland intelligence operation in Taiwan ends.

18 Oct 2025 - 6:40PMvideocam

Silent Honour is based on real events and uses the names of communist spies who operated in Taiwan at the time. Photo: CCTV

China’s military

China ‘showed integrated combat capabilities in locking on US fifth-gen jets’

A PLA J-16 fighter reportedly chased away two foreign planes– believed to be US F-22s – from its air defence identification zone last year.

17 Oct 2025 - 6:24PMvideocam

Taiwan

PLA Navy’s Taiwan-focused landing barge spotted at sea, destination unknown

Video shows self-elevating ‘water bridge’ Dong Gong 401 moving close to shore at an unidentified location.

16 Oct 2025 - 8:00PM

China's military weapons

How the Chinese military uses ‘human abacuses’ to counter smart device failures

State media says PLA abacus programme aids infantry and artillery units in determining optimal firing times and helps soldiers keep focus.

14 Oct 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

Chinese state media showcases the skills of Captain Xu Meiduo, who teaches soldiers how to use the abacus and other traditional mathematical techniques. Photo: CCTV

SCMP Highlights

China’s exports rebound, military mouthpiece’s PLA vow: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s outbound shipments beating estimates to a maths guru on domestically groomed talent, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

13 Oct 2025 - 9:50PM

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.

13 Oct 2025 - 8:46PMvideocam

China's military weapons

QBZ-191 assault rifle allows Chinese small arms to gain tactical and export edge

191 series shows PLA is catching up with global trends to match world-class combat rifles like the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416.

14 Oct 2025 - 3:18PMvideocam

The PLA’s QBZ-191 assault rifle reflects China’s commitment to boosting combat effectiveness to meet the demands of future conflicts. Photo: Weibo/深海猎人Enterprise-CVN80

South China Sea

Chinese military announces Malaysia drill as Japan-Philippines exercise starts

The Chinese military says next week’s Aman Youyi-2025 joint exercise will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

8 Oct 2025 - 7:46PMvideocam

Chinese and Malaysian troops take part in the 2018 Aman Youyi joint exercise. Photo: Malaysia’s Joint Forces Command

China's military weapons

Chinese military’s new underwater unmanned systems are ‘disruptive’: journal

Submersibles with ‘zero-radius turning manoeuvrability’ said to be capable of operating ‘with ease in complex maritime environments’.

4 Oct 2025 - 10:00PMvideocam

China's military weapons

China’s J-16 expelled 2 foreign stealth fighter jets last year: report

PLA pilot involved in encounter during coastal training exercise recounts locking onto both aircraft that were ‘approaching us’.

4 Oct 2025 - 9:00PM

China’s military drills

New mock Taiwan government buildings spotted at mainland Chinese military base

Japanese media report says simulated Taiwanese government compound for training PLA soldiers has expanded nearly threefold since 2020.

3 Oct 2025 - 7:21PMvideocam

Beijing has expanded construction of structures resembling Taiwan’s key government buildings in its military base in Inner Mongolia, according to new satellite images obtained by a Japanese think tank. Photo: Maxar

Hong Kong politics

From Stephen Chow films to Beyond hits: PLA sailors share Hong Kong affinity

Crew from Qi Jiguang and Yimeng Shan recount experience in city as residents enjoy final open day.

2 Oct 2025 - 5:01PM

(From left) Navy trainees Cheng Jiaming, Zhang Zihan, Luo Jiayi and Li Chunliang. Photo: Leopold Chen

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong marks National Day with hope amid challenges

As the People’s Republic of China turns 76, Hong Kong remains dedicated to national development and local growth.

2 Oct 2025 - 6:45AM

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong marks National Day with fireworks, naval ship tours and horse races

Residents, tourists enjoy holiday, with some touring PLA vessels, others visiting Sai Kung reservoir and crowds packing Sha Tin Racecourse.

2 Oct 2025 - 1:30AMvideocam

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The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

Can PLA training catch up with China’s rapid weapon development?

‘No matter how advanced the equipment is, if people cannot effectively operate it, it remains nothing more than cold steel’: PLA Daily.

Are China and Russia flexing their maritime muscle near Japan?

.css-1t72pn8{color:#C79A00;}Video | Chinese military officers target of new CIA video

CIA targets Chinese military officers in new recruitment video

US spy agency’s outreach, depicting a disillusioned mid-level officer, risks unsettling fragile calm before April’s Trump-XI summit.

Xi’s new year greeting reveals PLA Cyberspace Force post in South China Sea

Analyst says deployment signals Chinese military’s cyber warfare capabilities ‘are no longer confined to the mainland’.

J-35 jet maker flexes production muscle, pledging to double output in 5 years

New video shows stealth fighter on the runway at SAC in Liaoning as state media says factory will be part of ‘Shenyang Aerospace City’.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | US invasion of Venezuela no guarantee of hemispheric dominance

By signalling how far it will go to defend its interests in Venezuela, the US might have intensified conflicts closer to home rather than resolving them.

Video | PLA conducts second day of drills around Taiwan

Troops simulate attacks on maritime targets and conduct anti-air and anti-submarine operations to the north and south of the island.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel on Taiwan, the Ukraine war, China-US ties

Zhou Bo ponders Japanese PM Takaichi’s recent remarks, lessons from the Ukraine conflict and why China won’t be world’s policeman.

Opinion | How does China’s modernising navy stack up against the US seventh fleet?

Between what the US can sustain in the region vs what China can concentrate near its shores, the calculation increasingly favours Beijing.

Alibaba slams FT report on alleged PLA ties as ‘completely false’, ‘malicious’

The report appears to undermine the recent bilateral trade talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump.

China’s Pacific power takes strategic leap with new carrier

The commissioning of the Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, extends the nation’s reach into the Pacific, provided it can overcome the challenges of operating a blue-water navy.

US Space Force to use 3 weapons to jam Chinese satellites via remote control

The Meadowlands and Remote Sensing Terminals will be joining the US military’s Counter Communications System jammer.

No major PLA activity near Taiwan after ‘troublemaker’ Lai’s policy speech

Taiwanese defence ministry figures show no increase in the number of warplanes and warships near the island since October 10.

Chinese spy drama Silent Honour inspires praise for real-life agents

‘Sudden surge’ of visitors to memorial park and one agent’s family home comes as series about mainland intelligence operation in Taiwan ends.

China ‘showed integrated combat capabilities in locking on US fifth-gen jets’

A PLA J-16 fighter reportedly chased away two foreign planes– believed to be US F-22s – from its air defence identification zone last year.

PLA Navy’s Taiwan-focused landing barge spotted at sea, destination unknown

Video shows self-elevating ‘water bridge’ Dong Gong 401 moving close to shore at an unidentified location.

How the Chinese military uses ‘human abacuses’ to counter smart device failures

State media says PLA abacus programme aids infantry and artillery units in determining optimal firing times and helps soldiers keep focus.

China’s exports rebound, military mouthpiece’s PLA vow: SCMP daily highlights

From China’s outbound shipments beating estimates to a maths guru on domestically groomed talent, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

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.

QBZ-191 assault rifle allows Chinese small arms to gain tactical and export edge

191 series shows PLA is catching up with global trends to match world-class combat rifles like the US M4, Belgian SCAR and the German HK416.

Chinese military announces Malaysia drill as Japan-Philippines exercise starts

The Chinese military says next week’s Aman Youyi-2025 joint exercise will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Chinese military’s new underwater unmanned systems are ‘disruptive’: journal

Submersibles with ‘zero-radius turning manoeuvrability’ said to be capable of operating ‘with ease in complex maritime environments’.

China’s J-16 expelled 2 foreign stealth fighter jets last year: report

PLA pilot involved in encounter during coastal training exercise recounts locking onto both aircraft that were ‘approaching us’.

New mock Taiwan government buildings spotted at mainland Chinese military base

Japanese media report says simulated Taiwanese government compound for training PLA soldiers has expanded nearly threefold since 2020.

From Stephen Chow films to Beyond hits: PLA sailors share Hong Kong affinity

Crew from Qi Jiguang and Yimeng Shan recount experience in city as residents enjoy final open day.

Editorial | Hong Kong marks National Day with hope amid challenges

As the People’s Republic of China turns 76, Hong Kong remains dedicated to national development and local growth.

Hong Kong marks National Day with fireworks, naval ship tours and horse races

Residents, tourists enjoy holiday, with some touring PLA vessels, others visiting Sai Kung reservoir and crowds packing Sha Tin Racecourse.

Video | Chinese military officers target of new CIA video

Opinion | US invasion of Venezuela no guarantee of hemispheric dominance

Open Questions | Ex-PLA colonel on Taiwan, the Ukraine war, China-US ties