Mainland China’s military appeared to have stepped up manoeuvres near Taiwan during the country’s extended Lunar New Year holiday, usually a quiet period for defence and exercise activity. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent an average of 13 aircraft and six navy vessels near Taiwan during the 15-day holiday period, compared with nine aircraft and…
Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China and economy stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US to slash size of diplomatic mission in China by 10%: sources The United States is set to cut the size of its diplomatic mission in China…
Rick Waters is managing director of Eurasia Group’s China practice. He spent nearly three decades with the US Department of State where he oversaw the creation of the Office of China Coordination and was deputy assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus. For other interviews in the…
The admiral in charge of United States preparations for any conflict with China is expected to visit Australia next week as the Albanese government condemns Beijing for the latest “dangerous” incident involving military aircraft over the South China Sea. Defence officials on Thursday revealed a Chinese J-16 jet fighter had released flares within 30 metres…
Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China and economy stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Absurd’: Beijing slams Taiwan over DeepSeek ban, dismisses security fears Beijing has condemned Taiwan’s ruling party for ordering a ban on DeepSeek in government departments and public…
China’s top military command has rolled out a major education campaign to instil political loyalty to President Xi Jinping – an initiative aimed primarily at the top ranks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). In a notice on Tuesday to all personnel in the world’s second largest military force, the political work department of the…
China’s aerospace industry has made significant strides in the development of a superfast turbojet that can add heat in the global race for new-generation military aircraft. Scientists at Taihang National Laboratory, a leading aerospace engine research institute in southwest China, have completed ground tests of an unnamed turbine engine with advanced artificial intelligence technology that…
Chinese hypersonic air-to-air missiles have undergone extreme heat-resistance testing to meet the stringent performance requirements of the PLA Air Force, according to scientists involved in the project. This is the first official confirmation of the existence of this mysterious weapon, which could pose an unprecedented threat to US military aircraft, including the B-21 stealth bomber…
China has promoted a long-time airforce officer, Chen Hui, to the rank of general, confirming him as the new army political commissar, according to a report by state news agency Xinhua on Monday. Chen has replaced Qin Shutong, 61, whose appointment as the army political commissar was made public in January 2022. Qin’s whereabouts are…
Zircon from Australia could become fiercely contested by China and the United States, a geologist who works with the Chinese military has warned. While zircon is commonly valued as a gemstone, inside, it contains the metal zirconium. The metal can withstand very high temperatures, enabling ceramics, for example, to be heated to above 3,000 degrees…