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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

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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28
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

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15
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

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

7
Illustration: Victor Sanjinez Garcia

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

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5
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

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18
Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

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

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93
Illustration: Henry Wong
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
Footage of a Type 052D destroyer launching a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile was aired on state television in July. Photo: CCTV
United States

How are China’s Type 052D destroyers shifting the balance in the western Pacific?

The warship was used to launch a hypersonic anti-ship missile in July and could be strategically important in a Taiwan contingency.

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Pacific nations

Opinion | Pacific island states are trapped in Cold War 2.0

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Mainland China

Could China’s sixth-generation fighter carry a laser to defend against missiles?

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China’s submarines

Could mystery Shanghai vessel be a mothership for China’s underwater drones?

Satellite images show an unusual craft under construction that analysts say may be designed to deploy very large uncrewed submarines.

An extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle is displayed during a Beijing military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat and the end of World War II, in September 2025. Photo: AFP
Saudi Arabia

Has a Chinese DF missile been used for the first time in the Middle East?

Video of a DF-15A rocket motor in Marib hints at secret arms deliveries as Saudi-Houthi fighting escalates.

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China technology

Opinion | China’s J-10CE has foreign buyers, but not yet a market

In service in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and on Bangladesh’s radar, the fighter jet is not yet a threat to Western market dominance.

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ICBMs

For China, H-6N bomber enhances nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability

Country’s nuclear triad complete as airborne leg supplements intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

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The H6 is the only strategic bomber of the People’s Liberation Army. Photo: Handout
Mainland China

Why PLA’s laser-equipped Type 19 vehicle could matter in a Taiwan conflict

Images appear to show amphibious platform adapted with energy weapon and extra sensors for counter-drone defence.

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UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

Fresh photos offer clearest view yet of China’s ‘WZ-X’ spy drone

Analysts say the stealthy aircraft appears to be designed for reconnaissance deep inside contested airspace.

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India-Pakistan tensions

From Pakistan to Uzbekistan: how China’s J-10CE is widening its overseas reach

Fighter jet is becoming an appealing option for a growing number of foreign operators, potentially providing insight into its performance.

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Pakistan put the J-10CE to the test during a brief conflict with India last year. Photo: CCTV
Science

J-50 design team reveals leapfrog tech for China’s next-gen stealth fighters

The aircraft are expected to have futuristic systems for self-flying and large-scale drone wingman squads.

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An image of what appears to be one of China’s sixth-generation fighters, sometimes referred to as the J-50 and consistent with designs developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, surfaced on Chinese social media late last year. Chinese authorities did not confirm the authenticity of the images. Photo: Handout
Science

US scrambles to match China’s air-breathing hypersonic missile advantage

US defence agency launches next-generation weapons project a year after PLA unveiled pioneering hypersonic missiles in military parade.

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Taiwan

Beijing boosts Taiwan-facing firepower with brigade-level 155mm howitzers

Upgrade for Eastern Theatre Command’s 71st Group Army streamlines PLA’s firepower across land and sea as US artillery programmes lag.

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Drones

Merging air, land and sea swarms – the next frontier in China’s drone technology

CETC says mature formations of similar drones are the foundation for a combat network linking uncrewed assets across domains.

CETC says drone-swarm technology is an intelligent, distributed combat system. Photo: CCTV
India-Pakistan tensions

Pakistan’s China-made HQ-17AE system to boost drone defence in future India war

Successful integration with other foreign systems by Pakistan would strengthen China’s export case ‘considerably’, analyst notes.

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Pakistan has been revealed to be the fourth foreign operator of the HQ-17 Chinese short-range air-defence (Shorad) system. Photo: CCTV
China-Middle East relations

Chinese PLA aircraft to headline Egypt air show in display of export potential

No official word on which equipment will feature, but event comes just days after the end of a joint drill between the armed forces.

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China-Africa relations

In Burkina Faso, Sky Dragon 30 missiles point to China’s military export inroads

Chinese weapons are gaining favour as the West African country cuts ties with Western suppliers, analyst says.

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US military

US looks to warship designs from Japan, South Korea and Turkey, reports say

It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand.

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Japan’s Mogami-class frigate is said to be among designs being considered by the US. Photo: Kyodo
China’s air force

Tanker, transporter, controller: China’s Y-20 family expands its Pacific reach

Answer to strategic airlift shortage is becoming a family of support aircraft able to sustain combat missions deep into western Pacific.

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China-Middle East relations

Export potential? Chinese YY-20 refuels Egyptian Rafale in cross-platform drill

PLA tanker aircraft shows versatility in Egypt exercise, highlighting interoperability that could boost global sales prospects.

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UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)

How China’s revised defence law could harness AI and drones for war

The first amendment to the law in 16 years is also expected to cover cyberspace, biotechnology and quantum technology, analysts say.

Analysts say China’s revised defence mobilisation law will make it possible to rapidly convert emerging infrastructure, including unmanned systems, into military capabilities. Photo: Xinhua
Pakistan

Uzbekistan confirmed as second foreign operator of China’s J-10CE fighter

Uzbekistan’s defence ministry released official footage of the fighters on Sunday, which was also broadcast on state television.

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Video image of the J-10C’s official arrival is shown on Uzbekistan TV on Saturday as part of its independence day celebrations. Photo: Handout
Drones

China tests GJ-21 stealth drone as Sichuan Type 076 enters final sea trials

Social media clips show naval combat drone over Liaoning province while Beijing’s catapult-equipped drone carrier prepares for deployment.

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India

Bangladesh confirms Chinese J-10CE jet deal, citing Rafale shot down by Pakistan

Dhaka’s decision to buy the fighters shows that views on Chinese weapons are shifting and the market is opening, military expert says.

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Mainland China

Did the Chinese navy fire a radar-absorbing YJ-18A anti-ship missile in sea trial?

Black radar-absorbing finish on upgraded ship-launched weapon would improve penetration and visual camouflage over deep water, say analysts.

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Experts say China has tested a variant of the YJ-18A anti-ship cruise missile with a black stealth coating that will improve the penetration of the ship-launched missile. Photo: CCTV
China’s rocket force

China seeks public tips on procurement violations in PLA Rocket Force probe

Authorities asked for clues about problems in PLARF’s purchases spanning all stages of the process and different forms of procurement.

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The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force was established in 2015 and oversees some of the Chinese military’s most important assets. Photo: Xinhua
Aerospace: Geopolitics

Why China’s reusable rocket breakthrough matters for the PLA’s ‘kill chain’

Defence experts say breaking reusability bottleneck could give Chinese military a combat edge through rapid satellite deployment.

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Science

China’s J-36 fighter jet designers report danger of military AI hallucinations

Content generated by artificial intelligence models can ‘defy basic physics, design principles or operational constraints’.

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