China is on a mission to turn its military into a modern fighting force. In the second of this four-part series, we look at how its massive defence industry can support China’s military goals, and during wartime could be further bolstered by the civilian manufacturing sector. In the northeastern city of Shenyang, the future of…
China will stage a large-scale military parade in central Beijing next month to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event will showcase newly developed Chinese weaponry being revealed publicly for the first time, News.Az reports, citing Al Jazeera. Hundreds of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including fighter jets and…
When Chinese President Xi Jinping set 2049 as the year the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would match or surpass US military power, the choice was symbolic. The date marks the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and reflects Xi’s pledge of “national rejuvenation” through economic, technological and military strength. In Xi’s worldview, the…
U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Chinese leader Xi Jinping told him he would not invade democratic Taiwan as long as the American president remains in office. Trump made the comments Friday in an interview ahead of his highly anticipated summit in Alaska with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s war in Ukraine. “I…
China has released rare footage of its mysterious DF-100 supersonic cruise missile in action, shedding new light on the specifications and mobility of the model believed to be a major deterrent for US warships and military bases in the region. The blurred footage marked one of only a few public appearances the missile has made…
The People’s Liberation Army must measure itself against the world’s strongest military, a clear reference to the US, in its drive to win the global contest, according to an official policy commentary detailing the PLA’s goals by 2049. The article published on Thursday in the People’s Daily is one of the clearest explanations of Chinese…
Key Points and Summary – Recent purges and prolonged public absences by Chinese President Xi Jinping have fueled intense rumors of a political crisis or even a coup within the ruling Communist Party. Xi, once a prolific traveler, has been increasingly delegating duties and skipping major international events. -While this has stoked speculation that he…
Beneath the surface, Xi is facing friction on multiple fronts. TL;DR: Xi Jinping still rules unchallenged, but his control now relies more on loyalty than performance. Top generals purged, including close allies, fueling questions about cracks in the military. Xi’s visibility is down, and key commissions are less active – a shift or a retreat?…
The Shandong aircraft carrier strike group will stop in Hong Kong from July 3 to 7 as part of the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule. The visit marks the first time a PLA Navy aircraft carrier strike group has visited Hong Kong in eight years. The public can board the homegrown…
Strategic bombers remain “irreplaceable” for China’s military – even as it makes progress with sixth-generation fighters and long-range missiles – given their role in global strikes and nuclear deterrence, analysts say. They pointed to the American B-2 stealth bombers that hit Iran’s three nuclear sites on Saturday, dropping bunker-buster bombs directly over the facilities before…