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China military reform

China military reform
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.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Miao Hua has been suspended from duty and is under investigation for “suspected serious disciplinary violations”, usually a euphemism for corruption. Photo: Handout
China’s Communist Party

Will corruption probe into ideology top brass Miao Hua affect China’s military?

As the head of PLA ideology comes under investigation, President Xi once again emphasises loyalty to the party for China’s military.

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SCMP Highlights

Drone swarms, stealth fighters, missiles: 10 China military developments in 2024

China’s military

China’s PLA, rail authorities join hands amid Beijing’s battle-readiness push

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China economy

Opinion | What Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy can learn from China’s reformers

Deng Xiaoping and Zhu Rongji’s radical reforms resulted in a leaner government and more dynamic economy: the exact goals of the Musk-Ramaswamy plan.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk, with son on his shoulders, is to co-chair the newly created Department of Government Efficiency with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (in a blue tie). Both men seen before a meeting with Congress members at the US Capitol in Washington on December 5. Photo: AFP
China’s Communist Party

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun back in public as Xi calls for PLA stability

Xi stresses need for ‘new round of technology and military revolution’ in warfare during inspection of Information Support Force.

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China’s military drills

Amid fighter fleet overhaul, China’s military cuts its pilot training by a year

By 2026 most PLA fighter pilots could have initial flight and transition training in 3 years: US military think tank.

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China’s military drills

‘No victory without coordination’: China’s PLA focuses on joint operation training

‘New model for integrated training group exercises’ has reached the front lines, PLA Daily report citing Central Military Commission says.

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According to a former PLA instructor, “real war requires joint training” because it is “not enough for a single branch or unit to carry out any combat mission alone”. Photo: AFP
China's military weapons

Why China’s defence companies aren’t cashing in on a global arms sale surge

Chinese arms makers saw lowest annual revenues in four years, SIPRI top 100 report says, while US keeps No 1 spot with 41 firms on list.

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China’s Communist Party

China’s President Xi has a new military secretary, state TV footage suggests

Signs are that Fang Yongxiang, 58, seen by Xi Jinping’s side on at least two military visits, is the new CMC general office director.

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ICBMs

Opinion | China’s ICBM test may well redraw the global security landscape

More than a show of tech strength, it represents a shift in nuclear strategy and alliance stability that could redefine global security.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China’s rocket force

PLA Rocket Force scientist loses political advisory post in corruption crackdown

CPPCC expels missile expert Xiao Longxu as anti-graft campaign continues to zero in on military officials.

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Xiao Longxu is the former chief engineer of the PLA Rocket Force’s top research institute. Photo: Weibo/ 八大商人
Science

China cracks down on academic misconduct as part of push to beat US in tech war

By naming and shaming Chinese researchers for misconduct, China’s science ministry is doubling down on its push towards tech prowess.

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Vladimir Putin

Putin orders army to become second largest after China at 1.5 million-strong

Move would see Russia leapfrog US and India in terms of number of active combat soldiers. Beijing has just over 2 million active servicemen.

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Vladimir Putin

Russia’s Putin orders army to become second largest after China’s at 1.5 million-strong

Russian president increases army size for third time since 2022, with an active force that would exceed that of the US and India.

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Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, on May 9, 2024. File photo: AP
China’s military

Beijing to boost financial support for military personnel and veterans

Central government will take main responsibility for funding under revised regulations – costs previously shared with local governments.

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The revised regulations call for society to “create a strong atmosphere of patriotism, support for the military and respect for military personnel”. Photo: EPA-EFE
China’s military

China rolls out new rules to help veterans find jobs and start businesses

The regulations come days after Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for military service to be ‘respected by the whole society’.

China’s third plenum

China’s third plenum: party doubles down on economic, tech, military power

More than 22,000-word resolution document lists wide range of measures for next five years backed by party Central Committee at key conclave.

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China’s third plenum

China’s Communist Party sticks to painful reform playbook to target risks

Party elite offer no quick fixes as they wrap up a key meeting to determine long-term strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

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Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi arrive to attend the Central Committee’s third plenary session in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
China’s military

‘The world is not peaceful’: China targets youth in military education drive

More primary and secondary schoolchildren are participating in pilot programmes to improve their military awareness and skills.

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China’s military

As PLA admits focus on nuclear-powered subs, analysts point to US Navy

The PLA submarine force, which is marking its 70th anniversary, has for the first time publicly acknowledged a strategic shift away from conventional subs.

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China’s military

Xi tells PLA leaders they must eliminate ‘conditions that breed corruption’

Emphasising loyalty, Chinese leader gives address at a political work conference of the Central Military Commission that he initiated.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping at Wangjiaping in Yanan, China. Photo: Xinhua
US-China relations

Opinion | Contain China? Washington, that ship has sailed

Unlike the Soviet Union in the 1980s, China has a highly diversified economy and capable defences making it unlikely to collapse or be contained. Despite what some pundits in Washington may believe, much of the world would not readily join the US in a war or containment strategy against China

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A visitor holds up three Chinese flags as people gather for the flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square to mark National Day in Beijing on October 1, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg
China’s military

PLA’s new force eyes modern warfare information support

New force is ‘a key pillar in coordinating the construction and application of the network information system’, according to President Xi Jinping

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China’s military

US Air Force budget delays letting China close air superiority gap: official

New weapons programmes to counter China in the air and space held up by political obstruction, stopgap measures, Senate subpanel told.

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China’s military

China’s drive for military dominance depends on the shadowy SSF military branch

The emerging Strategic Support Force is leveraging the civilian sector to expand China’s space, cyber, electromagnetic and psychological warfare capabilities.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Two Sessions 2024

China’s growing defence budget targets combat readiness, ‘preparation for war’

PLA says increased military spending aims to ‘improve strategic capacity’ to defend sovereignty, security and development interests amid ‘instability and uncertainty’ and ‘complex and grim’ anti-separatist struggle.

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Beijing will spend more to improve the work and living conditions of PLA personnel and to overhaul internal military governance, according to the Chinese defence ministry. Photo: Xinhua
Two Sessions 2024

Xi issues hi-tech military call in push for integrated armed forces

Xi Jinping says the People’s Liberation Army needs to innovate and explore new types of combat force models.

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China’s military

US overhauls air force to meet China challenge. Will it work?

US Air Force secretary Frank Kendall says the move is designed to ‘meet strategic challenges in a time of great power competition’.

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