The Chinese military released a video showing it conducted a “combat-readiness patrol” around a disputed island near the Philippines—a defense treaty ally of the United States. The South China Sea island, Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Dao in Chinese and Bajo de Masinloc in Filipino, has been under Beijing’s control since a 2012 maritime standoff…
Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the latest of a series on Chinese weapon systems, Seong Hyeon Choi looks at what China’s second aircraft carrier tells us about the PLA Navy’s blue water…
China is building a new fleet of replenishment ships—capable of providing supplies to other vessels at sea—as the East Asian power’s navy expands its overseas presence. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters China possesses over 370 naval vessels, making it the world’s largest navy by…
The United States and China have deployed aircraft carriers in the South China Sea—where the sovereignty claims of several countries overlap—as they compete for naval dominance. USS George Washington was patrolling the U.S. Seventh Fleet’s area of operations—which refers to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans—with a strike group, the U.S. Navy said. Meanwhile, CNS…
The Chinese military has deployed a spy ship, a patrol aircraft and drones in waters around Japan’s southwestern islands in recent days, according to the United States ally. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters Japan forms part of the so-called First Island Chain—a Western Pacific defensive line—alongside…
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the “building of a unified national market” while exercising power in a “well-regulated” manner against corruption as the Communist Party of China (CPC) commemorated its 104th foundation day Tuesday, state-run Xinhua News reported. Founded in 1921, the CPC has surpassed the “significant milestone” of 100 million members. Addressing…
The Chinese navy said on Monday that its two aircraft carriers repeatedly encountered foreign warships and aircraft while operating simultaneously in the broader western Pacific. Both CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong maintained “high vigilance and responsiveness” to combat scenarios, handling the situation “professionally and soundly,” China‘s navy said. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry…
Chinese state media released undated footage on Sunday saying the country’s fighter jets had “expelled” foreign military aircraft that approached the East Asian power’s airspace. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters Close aerial encounters between Chinese and foreign militaries are not uncommon as the United…
China continues to expand its military reach around the world as one of its naval ships was seen transiting the Strait of Gibraltar and heading into the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend. The presence of the Chinese navy near NATO member states comes as the United States has dispatched an aircraft carrier-led strike group from…
Last Updated:June 30, 2025, 09:07 IST Xi’s absence from official engagements, state media coverage, and high-profile diplomatic meetings coincided with a wave of top-level purges in PLA and mounting economic challenges Xi was absent from the front pages of People’s Daily and Xinhua—the CCP’s primary propaganda outlets—from June 2 to 5. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s…