China and Russia on Thursday held their eighth joint aerial strategic patrol that saw bombers of the two countries flying over the Bering Sea for the first time, also marking the farthest place Chinese bombers have reached in a strategic patrol mission, experts said.

A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warship recently arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia to participate in Russia's upcoming Navy Day celebrations, with analysts highlighting recent China-Russia military exchanges and stressing the PLA Navy's far seas capabilities while refuting US media hype.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) recently held its first joint anti-terrorism drill featuring in China all member states, with experts saying on Tuesday that the large-scale exercise showed the SCO's determination and capabilities in tackling resurging threats from terrorism.

The island of Taiwan on Monday launched the live action phase of its annual Han Kuang exercise, claiming to mimic actual combat in which the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) blockades the island.

China and Belarus recently successfully wrapped up a joint army exercise, with a Chinese commander saying that the drill reached expected goals.

China and Russia have wrapped up a naval exercise in which warships from the two navies conducted live gun and missile firing in waters off China's southern coast, with experts on Thursday highlighting the high-level actual combat orientation displayed throughout the drill and the continued boosting of China-Russia military cooperation.

Joined by two Type 055 large destroyers and hosting intensive aircraft operations, the Shandong carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy displayed full operational capability during the ongoing far seas drill in the West Pacific, experts said on Wednesday.

Chinese and Russian navies recently wrapped up a joint naval patrol that stretched from northern Pacific waters to the South China Sea, meanwhile, the sea phase of a live-fire exercise between the two navies started, as experts expect the joint operations to enhance the two navies' interoperability in dealing with maritime security threats.

The navies of China and Russia are holding a joint exercise in the South China Sea and a joint maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean in moves experts said on Sunday aim to enhance military cooperation and safeguard peace and stability.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's second 10,000 ton-class hospital ship recently embarked on a voyage to islands and reefs in the South China Sea to conduct medical rounds and rescue exercises, with experts saying on Thursday that the vessel will enhance the PLA Navy's logistics capabilities and provide extra public security goods to the international community.

China's Shandong aircraft carrier group reportedly started its first far seas exercise of the year after it was spotted on Tuesday operating in the West Pacific, where another group of Chinese and Russian warships are conducting a joint maritime patrol.

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops participating in an ongoing bilateral exercise in Laos shared drone and anti-drone technologies with their Lao counterparts, a move experts said on Tuesday further displays the PLA's efforts to integrate unmanned equipment and related tactics into combat.

Acting as a foundation in building strong aviation forces, China's training aircraft are sophisticated, reliable, of outstanding performance, and can be built in large quantities, with one of the top products, the intermediate trainer jet K-8, having won a 70 percent international market share, the Global Times learned recently.

The Chinese and Belarusian armies will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise shortly after Belarus officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), with experts saying on Sunday that the drill will contribute to regional peace and stability.

An official photo recently released by the Chinese military showed the outstanding capability of the H-6K bomber in carrying air-launched ballistic missiles – capable of carrying four instead of two previously shown to the public.

China's aircraft carrier Shandong was recently spotted sailing near the Philippines in a move media said serves as a deterrence against continuous Philippine provocations on Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

The US-led Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 was scheduled to kick off on Thursday, with a key part of the drills being sinking a 40,000-ton target ship that analysts said aim to show off the capability to destroy a Chinese amphibious assault ship or aircraft carrier amid current tensions in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea.

Japan hyped intensified Chinese "reconnaissance activities" amid a US-led trilateral exercise in South Korea. The joint drills on China's doorstep not only show off force against North Korea amid its recent agreement on a security pact with Russia, but also target China, experts said on Wednesday.

The defense authority of the island of Taiwan has reported consecutive double-digit numbers of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft operating around the island over the past week. This comes as the mainland intensifies regular drills and patrols amid attempts by "Taiwan independence" secessionists to resist reunification by force.

Although the Philippines' latest provocation in the waters off China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in the South China Sea has failed under the decisive law enforcement by the China Coast Guard (CCG), the US is still trying to hype the tension in the region, as it wants more regional countries to be used and seek hegemonic interests from conflicts, said Chinese experts after a senior US diplomat made groundless accusations in Vietnam against China recently.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy revealed a new type of submarine in celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of its submarine force, with analysts saying on Thursday that the uniquely designed boat offers enhanced stealth and has already reached operational capability.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) recently recaptured Chinese fishermen's fishing net stolen by the Filipinos near the Philippines' warship illegally grounded at China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in the South China Sea, an exclusive video the Global Times obtained from the CCG revealed.

A set of photos the Global Times obtained exclusively from the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Wednesday show the CCG's interception, boarding, inspection and expelling of Philippine supply vessels when the latter illegally intruded into waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in the South China Sea on Monday.

The submarine force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has made historic breakthroughs in torpedo and missile capabilities. The force is focusing on the development of nuclear-powered boats while also maintaining conventional boats, an officer said on Monday.

Possessing nearly half of the world's nuclear weapons, much more than China's, the US' hyping of the "China nuclear threat" theory is a ridiculous attempt to further consolidate its nuclear dominance, and it is the US that should disarm more nukes to make the world a safer place, observers said.

China is well prepared for the Philippines' latest attempt to legalize its illegal occupations in the South China Sea as Manila recently filed a claim with the UN about an “extended continental shelf” (ECS) in the region, said analysts, noting that China will take comprehensive countermeasures in all fronts to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, and that the China Coast Guard's (CCG) new procedures will allow Chinese law enforcement forces to take more decisive action to counter provocations.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy reportedly has for the first time deployed an amphibious assault ship to the Nansha Qundao (also known as Nansha Islands) in the South China Sea, a move experts said on Sunday is preparation for any emergency response amid repeated provocations by the Philippines.

China recently deployed a group of warships including three Type 055 large destroyers to the South China Sea for a training exercise, a powerful task force experts said on Thursday will contribute to peace and stability amid regional tensions caused by continuous Filipino provocation.

China's third aircraft carrier, the electromagnetic catapult-equipped Fujian, reportedly wrapped up its second sea trial on Tuesday, an expansive and intensive test that experts said on Wednesday reflects the smooth progress made by the 80,000 ton-class warship.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) lawfully repelled a Dutch naval vessel-based helicopter when it conducted infringing provocations near Shanghai last week, a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday.

A series of biomimetic submersibles independently developed by China have started practical deployment in the South China Sea, with larger variants for armed reconnaissance missions under development, media reported.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's maritime border defense forces stationed in Nansha Qundao (also known as Nansha Islands) in the South China Sea recently conducted a maritime response exercise amid repeated provocations by the Philippines in the region.

Japan's defense ministry said it spotted a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) drone flying into the West Pacific on Tuesday, with analysts saying on Wednesday that the operation could serve as a countermeasure against US aircraft carrier activities on China's doorstep. A TB-001 armed reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Chinese military on Tuesday flew past the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea into the West Pacific to the south of Okinawa Island, before returning from the same path, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said in a press release on Tuesday evening.

A Chinese warship has recently wrapped up a multilateral joint exercise in Nigeria, a move analysts said on Monday saw the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy sail to far seas in the Atlantic, boosting military ties with other countries and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world. The PLANS (PLA Navy Ship) Xuchang, a Type 054A frigate in the PLA Navy's 46th escort task force, joined the six-day exercise from May 27 to Saturday as a part of the Nigerian Navy's 68th anniversary celebrations, the PLA Navy said in a press release on Sunday.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Sunday introduced China's approach to global security on the closing day of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, as he offered Chinese thoughts on resolving global security issues with a global perspective, while reiterating China's firm stances on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had their face-to-face meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, marking the first in-person talks between Chinese and US defense chiefs since November 2022 and a further step in resuming military dialogue and consultations amid recent tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits.

An ace test pilot of China's J-20 stealth fighter jet recently revealed that the J-20 is receiving constant upgrades, and a next generation warplane is expected to make its debut soon.

China is reportedly building more Type 055 large destroyers, reflecting the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's strides toward the blue water and efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests as well as peace and stability in the world, experts said on Wednesday.

The Chinese military has confirmed that its J-20 stealth fighter jet can easily reach supercruise, which experts said on Monday can bring significant tactical advantages and reflect the power of China's domestically developed engines.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will attend Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this week and outline China's global security concept, which experts said on Monday will reaffirm China's commitment to pursuing a path of peaceful development and its willingness to deepen international military cooperation despite Western accusations against China over the Taiwan question and South China Sea issue.

The just-concluded large-scale joint exercise by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has shocked “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces, with a pilot of the island's air force reportedly admitting that “the air force will eventually collapse.”

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) deployed robot dogs during the ongoing China-Cambodia joint exercise, a move analysts said on Sunday indicated the technical sophistication of the intelligent equipment that can greatly enhance combat efficiency and reduce casualty.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) continued to conduct drills around the island of Taiwan on Friday, forming what some experts call a new normal of "anti-salami-slicing" against provocations by the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently deployed a hospital ship on a mission to support troops stationed on islands and reefs in the South China Sea, with experts saying on Wednesday that physical and mental health is vital to combat capabilities particularly under challenging natural environment in the region.

An armed variant of China's independently developed Z-20 helicopter recently made its first appearance in an official report, with experts saying on Tuesday that even more Z-20 variants are expected to be developed. The PLA Daily on Monday published a story regarding Yuan Yuqiang, a non-commissioned officer in service with a brigade under the 76th Group Army of the Chinese Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) who realized his dream to become a flight mechanical technician.

As the armies of China and Mongolia on Sunday wrapped up their first joint drill with a live-action exercise featuring more than 100 armored vehicles, experts said on Monday that the large-scale exercise could be just a start for more similar drills to in the future.

Taiwan regional leader-elect and head of the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Lai Ching-te, who won the island's election in January with only 40 percent of the vote, is scheduled to formally take office on Monday.

The ongoing China-Cambodia joint exercise is proceeding smoothly after its launch, as the Cambodian troops got their hands on some of China's latest weapons and equipment, showing a high level of mutual trust between the two militaries, experts said on Sunday. The Golden Dragon-2024 joint drills entered the adaptation phase on Saturday, when the participating troops from both sides practiced their skills and had deep exchanges, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said in a press release on Sunday.

The ongoing China-Mongolia “Steppe Partner-2024” joint army training initiative held its first comprehensive, full-process live-fire training on Friday in Dornogovi Province of Mongolia on Friday.

A Philippine convoy organized by the Atin Ito Coalition has been deterred by Chinese forces, as it stopped 50 nautical miles away from China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) on Thursday, despite the organization's claim of successfully completing its mission, the Global Times learned from a source.

Ahead of the scheduled inauguration of Taiwan regional leader-elect Lai Ching-te, Western media on Tuesday sensationalized the so-called joint drills between the navies of the US and the island of Taiwan held in April.

After recruiting journalists and fisherfolk to launch infringing activities in the South China Sea, the Philippines is about to play a new round of trick in staging another incident. Philippine media outlets recently reported that a Filipino non-governmental organization called Atin Ito, or “This is ours,” is planning to rally a group of so-called Philippine fisherfolk to travel to the waters around China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in an attempt to use “fisherfolks” as “human shields, ” to initiate a fresh round of provocation in the South China Sea and deliberately engage in “sadfishing” to the international community.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) recently held a maritime rescue exercise in waters adjacent to Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island), a move analysts said on Monday highlighted China's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the island in the South China Sea.

At least three Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy task forces led by Type 055 large destroyers conducted exercises and combat patrols in and beyond the South China Sea over the past month, with experts saying on Thursday that this type of world-class warship has reached complete operational capability, and their deployment will contribute to peace and stability amid recent tensions in the region.

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, returned to Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard at around 3 p.m. Wednesday after completing its maiden sea trials.

The Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, also the first equipped with electromagnetic catapults, on Wednesday started its first sea trial session, a move analysts said will test newly integrated technology and lay a solid foundation for the commissioning of the 80,000 ton-class warship.

China's JH-7A fighter bomber provided close air support to ground forces in a recent cross-service exercise, with analysts saying on Monday that the multirole aircraft has demonstrated its versatility in an attack role.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD) on Sunday vowed to take resolute measures against the Philippines should it continue to challenge China's bottom line, with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) announcing a combat exercise being conducted recently in the South China Sea.

The US continued to strengthen its military activities on China's doorstep in the South China Sea and surrounding areas in 2023, including deploying aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and bombers, holding intensified close-in reconnaissance operations, and holding joint exercises, which poses growing risks to China-US relations, according to a newly released think tank report.

The US has recently ramped up its trouble-stirring moves in at least three directions around China to build regional tensions and reinforce its containment of China. Analysts said that Washington has always taken advantage of regional conflicts to serve its selfish geopolitical interests and warned of the consequences of serving as Washington's proxies and cannon fodder.

Pakistan takes "immense pride" in its unique and "time-tested friendship" with China. The two countries are not only connected by land, rivers, and mountains, but also by a heart corridor, founded on the shared values of mutual respect, trust, solidarity, and support, said Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi.

The navy and air force of the Chinese People's Liberation　Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command recently joined the China Coast Guard (CCG) and held a series of combat exercises across several maritime regions amid tensions in the Taiwan Straits, a move experts said on Monday will contribute to the safeguarding of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the region.

A group of landing ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently held live-fire exercises in the South China Sea, with analysts saying on Sunday that the flexible vessels capable of carrying tanks in amphibious landing missions are important in the safeguarding of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

The five-day China-Iran-Russia joint naval exercise Security Belt-2024 on Wednesday wrapped up its sea phase. The core part of the drill saw warships from the three countries conducting training to rescue civilian ships, which reflected the peaceful nature of the trilateral cooperation, experts said on Thursday.

The naval forces of China, Iran and Russia on Monday launched an exercise near the Gulf of Oman in a joint effort to safeguard regional maritime security, without targeting any third country or current regional tensions, experts said on Tuesday.

China's long awaited first strategic stealth bomber, the H-20, is worth the excitement, as it faces no technical difficulties in development and will be unveiled to the public soon, said the deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force at the two sessions in Beijing.

The Chinese military has vowed to implement President Xi Jinping's call to enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas, with military lawmakers and experts stressing the importance of new quality productive forces including artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned technologies, aerospace and cyberspace in modern warfare. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Thursday called on China's armed forces to forge a stronger sense of mission, deepen reform and promote innovation to comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas. He made the remarks while attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force (PAP) at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, or China's national legislature, the Xinhua News Agency reported on the day.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday urged countries from outside the region to not stir up troubles in the South China Sea, as he vows to take justified actions to defend China's rights and respond with prompt and legitimate countermeasures.

China will unveil its fourth aircraft carrier soon and answer the question as to whether it will be nuclear-powered, said the political commissar of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy at the ongoing two sessions in Beijing.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Tuesday took restriction measures, including the use of water cannon, against Philippine vessels that had trespassed into waters off China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in the South China Sea, during which a Filipino vessel intentionally rammed into a Chinese ship and causing a minor scrape.

China on Tuesday announced a defense budget draft for 2024 worth 1.66554 trillion yuan ($231.36 billion), an increase of 7.2 percent from the previous year.

The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) will review the draft defense budget for 2024 and publish the figure, which has maintained reasonable, steady growth over recent years consistent with China's economic and social development to better safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, a spokesperson said on Monday.

China has recently developed a new type of ornithopter, an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings, and experts said on Sunday that the small bird-like aircraft has huge military and civilian application potentials.

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, reportedly embarked on a sea trial on Thursday after a full year of refurbishment, with observers saying that the lengthy overhaul likely enabled China's next generation stealth fighter jet to operate on the carrier.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's routine escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia are a practice of implementing the China-proposed Global Security Initiative, and are not related to the current situation in the region, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

China will likely continue its trend of moderately increasing its defense budget in 2024, prompted by the country's needs in military modernization, the challenging security environment, and the recovering economic situation, experts predicted shortly before the figure's anticipated announcement next week.

China's Sky Hawk unmanned flying vehicle (UAV) is scheduled to conduct outdoors tests soon after some of its main parameters have been upgraded. Chinese experts said on Tuesday that the flying wing-configured drone is expected to play major roles in reconnaissance and attack missions.

A group of officially organized Philippine fishing ships recently trespassed waters off China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, people familiar with the matter confirmed with the Global Times on Sunday.

The Chinese mainland's maritime law enforcement authorities on Sunday conducted more patrols in waters near Kinmen in a move to safeguard the safety of fishermen's lives and property, after Taiwan authorities brutally assaulted a mainland fishing boat in the region earlier this month which led to the death of two crew members. The combined effect of the fatal incident and continued “Taiwan independence” activities by the secessionist Taiwan authorities will see such patrols become routine, experts said.

Facing recent rights-infringing moves from the Philippines in the South China Sea, the Taiwan authorities near Kinmen in the Taiwan Straits and Japan around the Diaoyu Islands, the China Coast Guard (CCG) carried out intensive law enforcement activities, displaying its capabilities gained from high-quality development and in firmly safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, experts said on Thursday.

Only one US aircraft carrier is currently deployed in the Western Pacific, not five as claimed by several media outlets, according to monitoring by a Beijing-based think tank.

As China's independently developed Z-10ME attack helicopter made its overseas debut at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday, analysts said that the helicopter has huge potential on the international market.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday monitored a Philippines-rallied joint air patrol in the South China Sea, which experts said on Tuesday was a political show aimed at China but had little military significance.

A mockup of a stealth fighter jet, reportedly the J-35, was recently spotted on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, prompting experts to say on Monday that China's next generation carrier-based fighter jet is not exclusive to the catapult-equipped carrier Fujian, but can also be used on ramp-equipped carriers Liaoning and Shandong.

The eighth Type 055 large destroyer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has achieved operational capability, it was announced in a recent exercise in the South China Sea, marking all eight warships of this class now currently in service are now ready for deployment, experts said on Sunday.

Facing provocations from the Philippines and the US during the Spring Festival holidays, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) did not let their guards down, took effective measures, and firmly defended China's sovereign security and maritime rights in the South China Sea, experts said on Saturday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is using an elite combat unit to train J-20 pilots amid deliveries of the stealth fighter jet to multiple units, a move experts said on Saturday will contribute to the fast generation of new combat capabilities which require pilots to not only fight, but also command.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier-based fighter jets recently conducted a training exercise with early warning aircraft, a model of warplane currently based only on land but not on aircraft carriers , prompting experts to predict that the Chinese carrier-based early warning aircraft will make its official appearance soon.

Amid Saudi Arabia's pursuit of military procurement localization, top Chinese defense products including fighter jets, drones, and armored vehicles have attracted great interest at an ongoing defense expo in Riyadh on Tuesday, with experts saying that Chinese arms firms can provide technology transfers that contribute to localized manufacturing.

The Chinese military, including its J-20 stealth fighter jets, will enhance combat alert duties during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays, a regular but important arrangement that will fend off any potential foreign provocations, experts said on Monday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force are extending their reach with new milestones in replenishment ships and large cargo planes, a move experts said on Sunday contributes to not only China's national defense but also world peace and stability.

The armed forces on the island of Taiwan recently simulated the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) "turning drills into an attack," a move Chinese mainland experts said on Thursday is only a powerless political show and exposes the guilty conscience of "Taiwan independence" secessionists.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently held a live-fire missile exercise along the southeastern coast where it can cover the Taiwan Straits, sending a warning to “Taiwan independence” secessionists and external interference forces, experts said on Wednesday. The navy of the PLA Eastern Theater Command recently conducted an all-element anti-ship missile assault exercise in an eastern coastal region in East China's Fujian Province, with several transporter erector launchers commencing live-fire missile attacks, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday.

After receiving new designs to further enhance effectiveness in information-based combat in modern warfare, China's CH-7 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has completed tests and its development is scheduled to finish this year. Chinese observers expect the drone to make a new appearance at the upcoming Airshow China in November.

In a move experts said on Monday reflects the US' obsession with containing China and risks backfiring, the US recently reportedly started production for the B-21 bomber, which made its first flight only two months ago.

Despite the recent easing of tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines again provoked China by airdropping supplies to its illegally grounded warship on Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) and sensationalizing Philippine fishermen's trespass on Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island), with experts saying on Sunday that these new methods of provocation increase the risk of triggering accidents, and the only way to resolve the dispute is through dialogue.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) recently stopped a group of Philippine fishermen from conducting illegal activities on China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, a source confirmed with the Global Times on Friday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) tracked and monitored a US destroyer as it made a transit through the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday, with experts saying on Thursday that the provocative US move, the first of its kind since separatist Lai Ching-te won the Taiwan regional election, sent a wrong signal and further raised tensions.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy announced on Wednesday that the aircraft carrier Shandong recently conducted a series of exercises while moored at its homeport, with analysts saying that the port drills can enhance the carrier's capabilities at sea.

A US think tank released a report on Tuesday claiming that the "majority of experts" from the US and the island of Taiwan said they believe "a crisis in the Taiwan Straits is likely in 2024," with a "blockade" or "quarantine" of the island by the Chinese mainland seen as the most likely scenario, while analysts from the mainland said this is an old trick of the US to hype regional tensions to spread fear in the region to serve its hegemonic interests.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's eighth Type 055 large destroyer recently received a multi-mission examination that experts said on Monday tested the newly commissioned warship's comprehensive capabilities, as the vessel readies itself for combat.

Experts on Sunday said that while the Chinese military is prepared to counter the US' close-in drone reconnaissance attempts on China, the country is ready to establish a set of rules with the international community governing maritime and aerial interactions with drones, after a think tank report suggested that the US is increasing deployment of drones in such missions that will lead to more complexities in the two militaries' maritime and aerial interactions, as well as crisis management and control.

China's next generation frigate, the Type 054B, launched only five months ago, reportedly started trials recently, indicating smooth progress, experts said on Sunday.

Recent nighttime exercises and patrols by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the island of Taiwan are routine and aim to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity from “Taiwan independence” secessionists and external interference forces, Chinese mainland experts said on Thursday, amid foreign media hype over the “first large-scale military activity” after the island's regional election.

Pakistan recently announced a plan to procure FC-31 stealth fighter jets from China, a move experts said will not only significantly enhance the Pakistan Air Force's capabilities, but also open up the international market for the Chinese aircraft, marking a win-win cooperation. The Pakistan Air Force introduced its transformative modernization initiative in a press release posted on its social media platforms on Tuesday.

The united front work should strengthen the patriotic united forces in Taiwan, and oppose the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in an article published in the flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee on Tuesday.

It has been apparently more than one month since the Philippines last sent ships to trespass into waters off China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), marking the longest pause in Manila's provocations since August.

JL-8 trainer jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's Red Falcon Aerobatic Team arrived in Laos on Saturday in preparation for its first-ever flight performance in a foreign country, with experts saying on Sunday that the visit will contribute to development of the two countries' military ties and expand the international reputation of the Chinese aerobatic team, as well as the Chinese aircraft.

Under a nationwide upgrade program, more than 700 Chinese frontier outposts have connected to the national power grid, a move experts said on Sunday that has boosted the Chinese military's capabilities in border defense, including improving the living conditions of troops and the deployment of advanced, power-consuming weapons and equipment.

Warships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently held an exercise in which they practiced defense against low, slow and small aerial targets, which experts said on Thursday pose a significant threat in modern warfare.

China and the US resumed the previously suspended defense policy coordination talks with a meeting this week, in which the Chinese side stressed its positions on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue, as well as maritime and air security issues.

China recently verified a new morphing wing structure that can help build future cross-domain aircraft, with an expert saying on Tuesday that the cutting-edge technology is expected to undergo flight tests before being applied.

The Party committee of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's first Type 055 large destroyer was honored as a role model on Sunday after the warship completed a series of challenging missions including fending off foreign military provocation in combat drills.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) extended its two-day routine patrol in the South China Sea into a third day of joint exercises on Friday, in a move experts said displayed China's determination and capability in safeguarding national sovereign security and maritime rights, as the US and the Philippines reportedly scaled down their joint patrol in the region.

Taiwan's DPP authorities have continuously sensationalized Chinese mainland balloons flying over the island since the start of 2024 despite knowing that they were for meteorological purposes and drifted due to seasonal winds, a move experts said on Thursday aims to hype up the “mainland threat” theory, stir up confrontation and snare votes in the upcoming regional election.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) held a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Thursday in a move to safeguard national sovereign security and maritime rights and interests amid a concurrent US-Philippines joint patrol and Manila's repeated attempts to permanently occupy Chinese reefs in the region.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday launched a two-day routine patrol in the South China Sea, concurrently with a US-Philippines joint patrol in the region, with experts saying that the PLA patrol is pointed toward infringement and provocative actions by the Philippines and the US, and displays China's determination and firm will in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is nearly complete and could make its maiden voyage soon, experts said on Wednesday, after the warship was briefly featured in a national media report on Tuesday that indicated smooth progress in its mooring tests.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have received a solid boost to their comprehensive combat capabilities amid a deteriorating security environment, experts said on Tuesday, after China's aviation industry wrapped up 2023 with warplane productions that exceeded expectation.

The US Department of Defense's hyping of 2023 being a "decisive year" in the Indo-Pacific region is filled with Cold War mentality and exposes its aggressiveness toward China, analysts said on Thursday, after the Pentagon on Wednesday released a fact sheet summarizing its work in the region.

The Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday vowed not to turn a blind eye toward the Philippines' repeated provocations and harassment, and demanded that the US immediately stop interfering in the South China Sea issue.

A US aircraft carrier has reportedly entered the South China Sea in a move experts said on Wednesday sends a wrong signal to the Philippines amid the Southeast Asian country's repeated provocations on Chinese islands and reefs in the region.

China is set to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its overseas naval escort missions on Tuesday, through which the country has been contributing to global peace and stability with concrete actions amid its shift in naval strategy from near seas defense to far seas protection, experts said.

After the US and Japan on Friday announced record defense budgets for 2024, with media reporting both have China in mind, experts warned on Sunday that under a deteriorating global security situation, the US is giving tacit permission to Japan to break away from its self-defense-only principle to help maintain the US' global hegemony amid dangerous rises in Japan's right-wing militaristic moves.

A senior Chinese military official on Thursday stressed China's stance on the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue in a virtual meeting with a US' senior military official, as the two militaries started to resume talks following the recent meeting between the two countries' top leaders.

Surrounded by geopolitical security challenges from multiple facets amid a global deterioration in security environment, China in 2023 maintained vigilance, fended off foreign military provocations, and deterred "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, while contributing to global peace and stability through concrete actions including foreign exchanges, joint exercises and patrols, peacekeeping and escort missions as well as international humanitarian aid.

Despite admitting the balloons were for meteorological purposes and were drifting due to monsoon, the defense authority on the island of Taiwan repeatedly announced the presence of mainland balloons near the island over recent days to hype the “threat” of the mainland, analysts said on Wednesday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force is pursuing fast equipment development with the aim of adapting to future air combat, which could involve vastly expanded battlefield boundaries, highly dynamic games, greatly enhanced unmanned combat and main battle elements characterized by high altitude and fast speed, said an official recently.

Chinese mainland experts on Sunday slammed the collusion between the US and “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces for creating more risks of a conflict, after the US recently approved a sale of military data link equipment to the island of Taiwan.

Overseas media has reported that China recently launched its fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, a type of vessel which is believed to be able to not only safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity in regions like the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, but also sail to far seas and carry out non-military operations such as international humanitarian aid.

The Chinese and Russian militaries on Thursday held their second joint aerial strategic patrol of the year, the seventh in total since 2019, reportedly adding electronic warfare and reconnaissance aircraft to a group of bombers and fighters, in a move experts said was aimed at safeguarding peace and stability in the region.

A Philippine envoy recently hyped the possibility of a war in the South China Sea, a move observers said on Thursday aims to win more of the US' limited resources in a futile attempt to seize Chinese islands and reefs.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has started to utilize mixed reality in aircraft maintenance, a move experts said on Wednesday can improve training for ground maintenance crews and lead to higher combat capabilities.

The Shandong aircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly returned to the south via the Taiwan Straits on Monday following a month-long operation in the north, with experts saying on Tuesday that the Shandong likely helped train pilots for another PLA aircraft carrier, the north-based Liaoning, which has been under routine maintenance.

China will continue to take resolute counter measures to deal with any acts of infringement and provocation and firmly safeguard its own territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in accordance with domestic and international laws, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Sunday took restriction measures on Philippine vessels that again trespassed into waters off a Chinese reef in the South China Sea and intentionally rammed a Chinese ship, with observers slamming the Philippines for breaking a tacit understanding with China and launching unprofessional operations, and also the US for fueling the Philippines' audacity of provocation.

China's first mass-produced WZ-16 turboshaft engines were recently delivered, marking yet another achievement in the country's aero engine sector, which used to trail behind the global top standard, experts said on Sunday.

The US has again hyped the alleged Chinese control of Cambodia's Ream Naval Base amid reports saying Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships recently visited the Ream port for the first time since a China-assisted renovation project there started in 2022.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently completed its 1,600th escort mission amid emerging signs of danger in the Gulf of Aden, making concrete efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the world as it strides to become a blue-water navy, experts said on Wednesday.

Japan, the US and Australia recently launched their first trilateral command post drill that aims to boost the defense of Japan "with China in mind," a move Chinese experts said on Tuesday reflects the three countries' groundless, dangerous obsession in hyping the "China threat" theory.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday slammed the US for violating Chinese sovereignty and described it as "the biggest threat" to peace and stability in the South China Sea, after a US Navy ship illegally intruded into waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) in China's Nansha Islands, which are at the center of the recent tensions between China and the Philippines.

Using the "China threat" as an excuse to build hegemony, the US, the UK and Australia are reportedly expanding their AUKUS military cooperation from nuclear-powered submarines to anti-submarine systems featuring drones and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as space tracking, all of which are sensitive fields that risk triggering an arms race, experts warned on Sunday.

China's domestically developed Wing Loong unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are expected to expand their applications and become more intelligent, the aircraft's developer recently told the Global Times.

The Chinese military is highly concerned and will be prepared for all kinds of possible emergencies that might occur along the China-Myanmar border, a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, urging relevant parties to stop the fighting in northern Myanmar as soon as possible and resolve differences through dialogue.

China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is holding mooring tests and will progress its construction steadily according to plan, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MOD) revealed on Thursday, amid speculations by foreign media reports saying that the Fujian recently tested its electromagnetic catapult system with a test vehicle in preparation for its upcoming maiden voyage.

India is reportedly set to acquire its second indigenous aircraft carrier to counter China, with analysts saying on Wednesday that being able to build one's own carriers is a great accomplishment, but building them only to "counter China" shows its tunnel vision.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) deployed howitzers and counter-battery radars in its ongoing live-fire exercise on the Chinese side of the China-Myanmar border in a move to test and show the troops' combat capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and border stability amid an armed conflict in the neighboring country.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is at high vigilance amid continuous provocations by foreign forces from the sea, displaying its high level of readiness, capabilities and determination in safeguarding China's national sovereignty, safety and maritime rights, experts said on Sunday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) was at the scene and on high alert when the US and Philippines launched a joint patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday, with experts saying on Thursday that the PLA's presence deterred potential provocations and displayed China's capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and maritime interests.

An ongoing military exercise hosted by China and joined by five Southeast Asian countries has entered its actual combat phase. Participated by ground, maritime and aviation forces, the drills will comprehensively enhance participants' interoperability and trust, experts said on Thursday.

China on Wednesday warned the US and the Philippines that their recent joint naval patrols near Chinese territorial waters should not harm China's sovereignty and maritime interests, with analysts saying the military activities by Washington and Manila showed the two countries have no sincerity to ease tension.

US media on Monday claimed that the era of total US submarine dominance over China is ending, a move Chinese experts said on Tuesday is yet another hype of the “China threat” theory motivated by the US hegemonic mentality.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) deployed a new type of anti-drone gun during an ongoing multinational joint exercise with Southeast Asian countries, as China looks to address threats from small drones that have become common in recent conflicts around the globe, analysts said on Monday.

Chinese experts on Sunday refuted accusations from Australia claiming that a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) destroyer used sonar to force divers from an Australian frigate to exit the water, saying that the Australian statement is vague and one-sided, and aims to hype the "China threat" theory.

Amid an ongoing joint exercise, Chinese and Pakistani naval warships are for the first time conducting a joint maritime patrol in the northern Arabian Sea, a move experts said on Thursday is part of the two countries' concrete actions to safeguard the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

A 10,000 ton-class large destroyer newly commissioned into the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) earlier in 2023 recently carried out a combat-oriented exercise in the South China Sea, displaying its rapid capability generation in defending national sovereignty, security and maritime rights amid tensions in the region, analysts said on Wednesday.

A wide selection of Chinese defense products, including fighter jets and drones, are on offer to international customers at an ongoing aviation expo in the Middle East. Military experts expect Arab countries to show a strong interest in weapons and equipment from China amid restrictions from other suppliers.

China will hold a joint military exercise with five Southeast Asian countries this month, with experts saying on Sunday that the move is conducive to the safeguarding of regional peace and stability amid repeated provocations by the Philippines over Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

The largest-ever joint exercise between the Chinese and Pakistani navies began in Pakistan on Saturday as the two countries continue to enhance their capabilities in jointly safeguarding strategic sea lanes as well as regional peace and stability, experts said on Sunday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army is believed to have commissioned a type of tactical ballistic missile, which made its public debut during a recent exercise, according to observers.

China for the first time displayed a live-fire missile launch by a J-20 stealth fighter jet in a celebration video released on Friday, a day ahead of the 74th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force.

J-10C fighter jets of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's Bayi Aerobatic Team have arrived in the UAE to participate in the upcoming Dubai Airshow next week, as China looks to deepen defense cooperation with countries in the Middle East, analysts said on Thursday. After traveling more than 7,000 kilometers from China, seven J-10C fighter jets arrived in Dubai on Wednesday to participate in the 18th Dubai Airshow scheduled to be held from Monday to November 17, the PLA Air Force said in a press release on Thursday.

The aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday made a transit in the Taiwan Straits immediately after having completed a far sea exercise in the West Pacific, in a move that observers said deters secessionists on the island of Taiwan and the external interference forces.

In a video message to the Opening Ceremony of the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2023 held on Wednesday in South China's Hainan Province, China's top diplomat Wang Yi reiterated China's commitment to settling disputes and disagreements through dialogue and consultation while warning against maritime bloc confrontations.

Chinese experts slammed recent reports by a US think tank and media outlets on Wednesday, criticizing them for once again hyping China's overseas military bases. They argued that these speculations are self-contradictory and untenable.

The Philippines and Japan hope to hold a joint exercise under a new bilateral security pact next year, which Chinese experts said on Wednesday is a dangerous plan that could pose several threats to regional peace and stability.

The Shandong carrier strike group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly returned to the South China Sea on Monday after having held its third far sea exercise of the year in the West Pacific, in which the carrier doubled the record of its aircraft sortie rates and demonstrated its increasing capabilities in fending off potential external interference attempts and provocations, experts said on Tuesday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently organized a day-and-night live-fire exercise off the coast of East China's Fujian Province for multi-type helicopters carrying multi-type munitions, including a newly debuted airborne rocket launcher.

Canada has repeatedly hyped up "dangerous" interceptions by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently, but experts said on Sunday that the PLA's lawful actions took place on China's doorstep, and that Canada's blind confidence could lead to troubles of its own.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) lawfully dealt with a transit by US and Canadian warships in the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday. This comes at a time when the US has deployed two aircraft carriers near China in its attempt to maintain hegemony amid global security tensions, experts said on Thursday.

An ongoing drill by the aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy near the island of Taiwan was reportedly joined by additional aviation and naval forces over the past few days, as the PLA continues to enhance its capabilities beyond the first island chain.

The most important task for the coming decade for all security leaders is to avoid physical conflict in Asia, according to the Singaporean defense minister in a speech delivered at the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Tuesday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) blocked a Philippine warship that trespassed into waters off China's Huangyan Dao (Huangyan Island) on Monday, amid escalated provocations by the Philippines around Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, observers said.

China recently organized the country's largest comprehensive emergency rescue aviation exercise, demonstrating the systematic achievements in its independent aviation emergency rescue equipment field in recent years and verifying the results of tactics research, scientific innovation, equipment development and actual application.

Recent US aircraft carrier operations in the South China Sea encouraged the Philippines in its escalated provocations over Chinese islands and reefs in the region, with experts saying on Monday that the US again demonstrated its role as a troublemaker in the region.

Philippine vessels on Sunday dangerously approached Chinese vessels which led to bumps during the China Coast Guard's (CCG) interception on their rights-infringing trespasses in waters off China's Ren'ai Jiao, also known as Ren'ai Reef, in the South China Sea, with experts warning of more aggressive Philippine provocations that could lead to more serious collisions.

China and India are effectively managing the risk of another border conflict, experts said on Thursday, after the two countries held, earlier this week, the 20th round of corps commander level meetings where they agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas as the two sides continue to work out a mutually acceptable solution on the issue.

Ongoing regular maintenance for China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has entered the final stages as the ship has recently exited dry dock, with analysts saying on Wednesday that the carrier is expected to return to active service within the year with enhanced combat capabilities.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) expelled a gunboat of the Philippine Navy that intruded into waters off China's Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea on Tuesday,

China and Saudi Arabia on Monday kicked off a joint naval special operations exercise in South China, with experts saying on Tuesday that the two countries have made such joint drills routine in a move to boost military cooperation as well as safeguard peace and stability.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently organized some of its most powerful warships to conduct a series of naval drills across several regions in the South China Sea, a move experts said on Monday displays China's capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity amid a US and Philippine joint exercise allegedly targeting Chinese islands and reefs.

The ongoing multilateral military exercises featuring the US and Philippine navies in the South China Sea and the Philippines' continued provocations against China could lead to a military escalation to the tensions that will backfire on the Philippines, experts said on Saturday.

Despite having to hide its munitions in an internal weapons bay to achieve a high level of stealth, China's J-20 stealth fighter jet can still launch missiles under extreme battlefield environments, bringing tactical advantages in combat, the chief test pilot of the aircraft revealed recently.

The frequent participation of drones in the Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) routine exercises around the island of Taiwan highlighted the PLA's high level of unmanned capabilities and combat preparedness, experts said on Friday, after the defense authority on the island of Taiwan recently "spotted," for the first time, yet another type of PLA drone, the GJ-2.

The Philippines said it has removed the "floating barrier" China deployed near Huangyan Dao (Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, a claim questioned by experts who on Tuesday also said that such hype does not fit the national interest of the Philippines, but that of the US.

The island of Taiwan's submarine deployment plan to block the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) from entering the Pacific Ocean is daydreaming, experts said on Monday, ahead of the scheduled launch of the island's first "indigenous" submarine later this week.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly conducted a ground exercise on the mainland side of the Taiwan Straits on Sunday, as the defense authority on the island of Taiwan became aware of the participation of long-range rockets, conventional missiles and amphibious troops in the PLA drills around the island in addition to previously detected aircraft and vessels.

The US is reportedly in talks with Vietnam on offering the country F-16 fighter jets after the two countries upgraded their diplomatic ties earlier this month, but experts said on Sunday that the potential deal, serving the US' hegemonic goals of containing China, would stir up troubles that sabotage peace and stability in the region, and that Vietnam will not easily accept that.

The newly unveiled KVD002 armed reconnaissance drone of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army has likely participated in patrols and exercises around the island of Taiwan since 2022, identified then as the CH-4, analysts said on Thursday.

With the return of participating Pakistani forces to their home country on Tuesday, China and Pakistan successfully wrapped up the Shaheen-X joint air exercise in Northwest China, with observers on Wednesday predicting more military interactions and exchanges that will further deepen pragmatic cooperation between the "Iron Brothers."

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's Y-9 medical rescue aircraft for the first time participated in a mission abroad during the ongoing military medical services exercise between China and Cambodia in Phnom Penh, with analysts saying that China has built a multidimensional battlefield medical aid system that can offer international public security goods.

A record-breaking more than 100 aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) were spotted around the island of Taiwan within 24 hours on Sunday and Monday. The sightings, which came after 20 PLA vessels, also broke their respective record last week. Experts say this shows that PLA exercises around the Taiwan island have reached a new level.

Several of China's domestically developed engines for helicopters and drones made their debuts at the four-day 6th China Helicopter Exposition that wrapped up in North China's Tianjin on Sunday, displaying the country's independent efforts to power all types of aircraft.

With the return of the Shandong aircraft carrier group and other warships, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has seemingly wrapped up its five-day blitz exercise around the island of Taiwan, which analysts said on Saturday was characterized by its large scale, joint operations and short duration in what could be a new tactic.

From joint military drills and arms sales to defense dialogues, the US and South Korea are increasingly enhancing their military alliance, as the two countries commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the Incheon Landing operation in the Korean War (1950-53), shrugging off opposition from North Korea.

China debuted some of its latest helicopter technology at an expo that opened on Thursday, including a type of armed reconnais-sance drone that can work with helicopters and a type of hybrid power assault vehicle that can fit into a wide-body helicopter.

At an upcoming helicopter expo on Thursday, China is set to unveil a type of fully electric hexarotor aircraft that can switch between manned and unmanned modes for multiple types of missions. On Wednesday, a top chopper designer noted that new energy and intelligent technology could greatly change helicopters and their applications.

"A workman must first sharpen his tools if he wants to do his work well," is a Chinese saying that emphasizes not only the importance of tools of a craft, but indicates the vital role of the craftsman who creates the tools.

A large naval task force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly entered the West Pacific on Monday in a likely move to join forces with the aircraft carrier Shandong in the region and form what observers said on Tuesday could be an unprecedentedly large carrier group.

China's aircraft carrier Shandong reportedly sailed past the island of Taiwan and entered the West Pacific on Monday for its second far sea exercise of the year, two days after US and Canadian warships made a provocative transit in the Taiwan Straits.