China's minister of defense Li Shangfu will attend an Asian defense summit in Singapore this week and introduce China's new security initiative. Experts said on Monday that the move will promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region amid tensions in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea stirred up by the US.
China recently unveiled a type of tube-launched suicide drone that has a breakthrough flight performance and can be carried by ground and maritime platforms, providing enhanced stealth and flexibility in missions, experts said on Sunday. The Peregrine tube-launched long-endurance folding-wing drone, developed by a team led by Chang Min at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, successfully carried out a test recently, the university announced in a press release.
After wrapping up a joint military exercise with Laos, China is planning to conduct a multinational drill with Southeast Asian countries. Intensive foreign interactions of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) serve to boost cooperation, deepen trust and safeguard regional peace and stability, marking a stark contrast to US-led joint military drills that highlight confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region, analysts said on Sunday.
A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Shandong reportedly sailed through the Taiwan Straits on Saturday, amid intensive PLA warplane and warship activities around the island of Taiwan following US delivery of Stinger missiles to the island.
A flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy led by a Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer has carried out a combat-oriented exercise in the South China Sea amid rising tensions in the region stirred up by the US.
China announced on Wednesday that it has recently placed three buoys in some reefs of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, a move experts said serves to not only provide navigation safety, but also shows that China is safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, demonstrating it is the true owner of South China Sea islands.
The Ministry of Transport announced that starting from 3 am on Tuesday, the rescue operation for the capsized vessel Lupeng Yuanyu 028 has been scaled down to a 48-hour small-scale investigation following a large-scale maritime search and rescue. Three Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels participated in this sea rescue operation, marking another non-war military action following the emergency evacuation of Chinese personnel from Sudan by PLA naval vessels on April 26.
Two types of main combat equipment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and Air Force, the Type 052D destroyer and the J-10C fighter jet, are participating in an international maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia that kicked off on Tuesday.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command recently replaced a batch of legacy aircraft with additional J-16 heavy fighter jets, a type of advanced warplane frequently spotted in routine drills and patrols around the island of Taiwan.
Far sea exercises by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy are routine and display its capabilities, experts said on Thursday, after Japan hyped it spotted a PLA Navy flotilla led by a 10,000 ton-class large destroyer as the latter completed a full circumnavigation around the country.
Chinese and Lao troops exchanged weapons during live-fire shooting practices during the ongoing Friendship Shield-2023 joint exercise, in which the Lao forces for the first time got the first-hand experience using the next-generation service rifle of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)
Liz Truss's reckless visit to Taiwan island could affect the balancing position that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken on China engagement, Chinese experts said, as the UK's shortest-serving prime minister and still a member of parliament (MP) kicked off a five-day visit to China's Taiwan region on Tuesday where she is expected to meet secessionism officials.
Chinese and Japanese defense chiefs on Tuesday talked through the newly established maritime and air liaison mechanism direct phone line for the first time.
The Bayi Aerobatic Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has converted to flying J-10C fighter jets, and will make its first overseas performance with the new aircraft at an upcoming maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia.
Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada talked on Tue using the maritime and air liaison direct phoneline for the first time, exchanging views on bilateral and defense relations: Chinese Defense Ministry
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is deploying the latest intelligent simulation technologies in its daily training, a move experts said on Monday will greatly speed up the forming of combat capabilities.
A flotilla of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has wrapped up a month-long far sea exercise in the South China Sea and the West Pacific, a move experts said on Sunday demonstrated the Type 055 large destroyer's far sea capabilities.
In this installment, a young female internet celebrity who is a helicopter pilot, and also the first female pilot in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army, shares her story of chasing her dreams in the expansive blue skies.
China will not tolerate Japan interfering in its internal affairs, Chinese experts said, as a flotilla of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy was spotted in waters near Japanese islands after Japan's recent provocative remarks concerning China's Taiwan island.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently wrote a letter to a submarine crew, urging them to continuously improve their ability to fulfill missions and tasks, and strive to become an elite force with overall competency.
China's carrier-based aviation force celebrated its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, with observers saying that the country's carrier-based warplane development and pilot training programs have entered the fast lane. A celebration video China Central Television (CCTV) published on Wednesday gave a short glimpse of two types of aircraft that observers said could be China's new carrier-based fighter jets. One seems to be an upgraded version of the J-15 fighter jet, and the other the next-generation stealth fighter jet, reportedly called the J-35.
China delivered two Type 054A/P frigates to the Pakistan Navy on Wednesday in Shanghai. This means all four warships of this class have been commissioned into the Pakistan Navy.
Japan announced on Monday that it has deployed Patriot missiles on Miyako Island, a strategically important node on the “first island chain” close to the island of Taiwan. This move, as Chinese experts said on Tuesday, is yet another Japanese attempt to interfere in the Taiwan question.
Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops have set out for a joint exercise with Laos to be held later this week, marking yet another Chinese military interaction with Asian countries since the past month. Such joint drills contribute to military exchanges and the safeguarding of regional peace and stability, experts said on Sunday.
The Shandong aircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently wrapped up its first far sea exercises in the West Pacific.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Saturday released videos and pictures of just-concluded combat readiness drills of the Shandong aircraft carrier fleet, saying that the fleet entered the Western Pacific for the first time in a systematic and large-scale manner, which according to Chinese experts, effectively refuted the Western media's smears that Chinese aircraft carriers only "play theatrical role but pose little threat."
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) carried out multiple, intensive activities across the globe over the past week, highlighting its enhanced capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, even in distant waters, analysts said on Thursday.
The PLA has closely tracked and monitored a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft that flew over the Taiwan Straits on Friday, a spokesperson from the PLA Eastern Theater Command said while warning that the theater command's troops remain on high alert to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and regional peace & stability.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense General Li Shangfu reportedly arrived in India on Thursday to start a two-day visit and attend a defense ministers' meeting among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), with experts expecting positive outcomes in enhancing security cooperation.
Warships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy have set out for Singapore to participate in the upcoming bilateral joint military drills and an international defense expo, with analysts saying on Wednesday that the events reflect pragmatic cooperation between the Chinese and Singaporean militaries and promote military openness and understanding in the South China Sea.
The aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly returned to the South China Sea from its latest far sea exercises in the West Pacific, where it hosted about 620 aircraft sorties, far surpassing the previous record set by the aircraft carrier Liaoning. Experts said on Tuesday that the Shandong carrier group displayed its high capabilities in deterring “Taiwan independence” secessionist and foreign interference forces.
Chinese embassies in Egypt and Ethiopia are closely monitoring the security situation, and sent assistance teams along the border ports to assist Chinese nationals seeking to evacuate from Sudan and entering Egypt and Ethiopia amid escalating conflict in the country.
China and India held the 18th round of Corps Commander Level Meeting on Sunday, a move Chinese experts said on Monday showed that the border issue is shifting from a standoff to normalized management.
In addition to opening many naval bases along China's coastal regions to the public, China celebrated the 74th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Sunday by releasing updates on its major naval development programs, including the trial progress of its third aircraft carrier, a plan to build more carriers and develop more new-type warplanes, as well as the commissioning of a 10,000 ton-class large destroyer.
One day ahead of its 74th founding anniversary, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy released a celebration video on Saturday, revealing a large amount of information that experts said highlighted the country's resolution to shatter secessionist forces on the island of Taiwan and safeguard national sovereignty.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently commissioned the Xianyang, the eighth Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyer. All eight warships in this class have now entered service with the PLA Navy.
The Chinese and Russian defense ministers held an official meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, in which they highlighted the high level of China-Russia military-to-military relations, agreed to deepen military cooperation, and stressed mutual support in respective core interests.
The second aircraft carrier of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the Shandong, is reportedly conducting intensive drills beyond the first island chain, reaching near Guam on the second island chain after completing Taiwan island encirclement drills last week.
The island of Taiwan will reportedly buy as many as 400 land-launched anti-ship Harpoon missiles from the US, a move Chinese mainland experts said on Tuesday is akin to playing with fire, and that the missiles could be destroyed before they have the chance to launch if a conflict breaks out.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army has taken delivery of a batch of new self-propelled anti-aircraft systems that analysts said on Monday have drone threats in mind.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry firmly opposes US' accusations and smears against China in the US' annual report on arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation recently, urging the US to stop its self-righteous behavior of pointing fingers at other countries and respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community on US' compliance.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) kept a US warship under watch as it made a transit through the Taiwan Straits on Sunday, with experts saying on Monday that such US provocations are no longer significant after the PLA again displayed its capabilities in the latest island encirclement patrols and joint drills.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese PLA fully monitored the US warship's passing operations, maintaining a high-level alert at all times and resolutely defending national sovereignty and security: spokesperson on USS Milius sailing through the Taiwan Straits.
Citing previously leaked documents, The Washington Post reported on Saturday that the military of the island of Taiwan is “unlikely to thwart Chinese mainland military air superiority in a cross-strait conflict,” highlighting a series of shortcomings in the Taiwan military's equipment and training. In response, the defense authority on the island of Taiwan stated that it “respects outside opinions about its military preparedness,” but military experts said the “Taiwan military” is being slapped in the face by its master, yet still has to smile.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu is scheduled to start his four-day visit to Russia on Sunday, his first foreign trip in his new position, with experts saying the trip will deepen bilateral military ties and contribute to peace and stability of major international and regional hotspot issues amid a complex security environment.
China successfully conducted a land-based, mid-course antiballistic missile (ABM) technical test on Friday, marking China's seventh publicly announced land-based ABM test since 2010. The country has mastered related technologies, forming a credible deterrent against nuclear threats, analysts said.
China's defense minister to visit Russia from April 16 to 19
China has revised its regulation on conscription work, putting an emphasis on recruiting highly qualified college students and stipulating rules for recalling skilled veterans during wartime. This is a necessary move for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as China is deepening systematic reform of the military as well as rapidly forming combat capacity during wartime amid a turbulent world, experts said.
The three-day 10th World Radio Detection and Ranging Expo (World Radar Expo) kicked off on Thursday in Beijing, where top Chinese defense firms displayed their answers in countering some of the world's most challenging air threats including drones and stealth aircraft. In the Ukraine crisis, the world again witnessed the high potential of drone application in modern warfare, as drones have become one of the biggest threats in air defense because they are often low-flying, slow and small - not to mention inexpensive - and traditional radar systems designed to counter traditional aircraft tend to fail to detect these drones, experts said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army.
China's Y-20 large transport aircraft has been enhanced by a new type of engine with a high bypass ratio, official media reports showed, with analysts saying on Tuesday that the improvement will give the domestically developed cargo plane a higher takeoff weight and a longer range.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command continued routine patrols and exercises around the island of Taiwan on Tuesday despite the conclusion of its combat alert patrols and “Joint Sword” exercises, with experts saying the PLA will continue to carry out military operations until “Taiwan independence” forces no longer exist.
The Shandong aircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Monday joined the third and final day of the PLA Eastern Theater Command's combat alert patrols and “Joint Sword” exercises encircling the island of Taiwan, in which warships practiced assaults on fleeing hostile vessels and a maritime blockade, with other military services and branches continuing joint blockade and joint strike drills.
Shandong aircraft carrier group hosts J-15 fighter sorties on third day of drills encircling Taiwan island
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command organized its multiple affiliated military services and branches and conducted joint precision strike simulations on the island of Taiwan on Sunday, the second day of its Taiwan Island encirclement combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises, continuing to pressure "Taiwan independence" forces and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kicking off the encirclement combat alert patrols and "Joint Sword" exercises around the island of Taiwan, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Saturday pressured the island from all four directions by deploying an aircraft carrier, long-range rockets, vessels, fighter jets and conventional missiles.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command announced on Saturday morning that it has started encircling the island of Taiwan from four directions with combat alert patrols and joint exercises, which are scheduled to last from April 8 to 10. Experts have stated that this move marks a powerful response to the recent meeting between Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in addition to sanctions.
China's brand-new multirole helicopter, the AC332, successfully completed its first full-state flight in Binhai New Area, North China's Tianjin Municipality on Friday, with its developer saying that the aircraft will provide strong support for emergency rescue, transportation and general aviation needs from people in the country's vast plateau areas.
China will adopt firm and resolute measures to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity in responding to the latest meeting between the regional leader of the Taiwan island and the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - an erroneous move that delivered a heavy blow to the already strained US-China relations, damaging the political foundation of the two countries and making the cross-Straits situation more intense.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the armed forces of Cambodia recently wrapped up the Golden Dragon-2023 joint exercise after a comprehensive live-fire phase simulating a terror attack on a major international event, with experts saying on Thursday that the drills consolidated military exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and contributed to regional security, peace and stability.
The aircraft carrier Shandong of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy reportedly started its first exercise in the West Pacific on Wednesday after sailing past the island of Taiwan, breaking the first island chain, with analysts saying that the voyage shows the PLA Navy's second aircraft carrier is fully ready for far sea operations and safeguarding China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ahead of a planned meeting between Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command vowed to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, with multiple land, naval, air exercises focusing on amphibious landing missions underway.
A type of portable electromagnetic riot gun developed by China recently went through a firing test and displayed traits superior to traditional firearms, including low noise, little muzzle flash and low recoil, with experts saying on Monday that the technology marks a development trend for future weapons.
The J-8, a type of legacy fighter jet domestically developed by China, is still playing a surprise role in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) although it is close to its eventual retirement, a pilot said recently, citing the aircraft's integration into the PLA's comprehensive combat system.
Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces close to the island of Taiwan recently held intensive maritime and air exercises and commissioned new weapons and equipment prior to Taiwan regional leader Tsai Ing-wen's planned meeting with US house speaker McCarthy in the US later this week.
One day before the Japanese foreign minister's scheduled visit to China, China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Friday that the direct telephone line for the maritime and air liaison mechanism between the Chinese and Japanese defense ministries has been established, a move experts said is a positive signal showing that Chinese-Japanese relations are improving, and that military crises between the two countries will be less likely.
The US has maintained intensive military activities around China despite the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis in 2022, a situation that experts said on Tuesday will only provoke China and lead to more countermeasures that go against the US' wishful thinking. Even against the background of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US military stressed military deterrence against China, maintained a high level of close-in reconnaissance operations in the South China Sea, and sent vessels and aircraft through the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), a Beijing-based think tank, said in an annual report on US military activities in the South China Sea last year, which was published on Monday.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will recruit carrier-based aircraft pilots among junior high school graduates, as the annual recruitment of youth pilots has started in recent days. The move is aimed at training pilots with more professional skills to adapt to the rapid development of China's aircraft carrier construction, said military experts.
The Type 055 large destroyer Wuxi of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has achieved operational capability after completing a full-course acceptance test recently, becoming the fourth combat-ready 10,000-ton class destroyer of the PLA North Sea Fleet, with experts saying on Sunday that having more Type 055 ships at the PLA's disposal means higher far sea capabilities.
A US warship was expelled again from Chinese territorial waters off the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) when it attempted to trespass for a second consecutive day on Friday.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army practiced air defense in a recent joint confrontational exercise with the Air Force, with the Air Force sending a J-20 stealth fighter jet as a mock enemy, in a move experts said on Thursday could simulate attacks by a US F-35, a type of stealth aircraft widely deployed on China's doorsteps that poses serious threats to China's national defense.
PLA Southern Theater Command dispatched naval and air forces to track, monitor and warn away the USS Milius guided missile destroyer when it trespassed Chinese territorial waters off the Xisha Islands on Thursday: spokesperson
After wrapping up a joint naval exercise with Iranian and Russian warships in the Gulf of Oman, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy destroyer Nanning has returned to its escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, with experts on Wednesday hailing the PLA Navy's recent intensive efforts in safeguarding maritime transport routes as well as peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region.
China's top helicopter expo will resume this year after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic,, with analysts expecting new technologies to be displayed that can give the world some first glimpses at China's next-generation helicopters.
The Golden Dragon-2023 joint military exercise between China and Cambodia is scheduled to start on Monday in a training ground in Cambodia, with the focus on non-traditional security threats including terrorism, infectious diseases and natural disasters.
The Marine Corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has conducted a multidimensional landing exercise, in which the capabilities of the Type 075 amphibious assault ship were on full display.
The Type 071 comprehensive landing ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy which was carrying Chinese troops to participate in the upcoming China-Cambodia Golden Dragon-2023 joint exercise held an unprecedented drill with Cambodian vessels on Sunday.
A Type 071 comprehensive landing ship is carrying Chinese troops on their way to participate in a large-scale joint exercise with Cambodia, marking yet another major event in a busy month of foreign military exchanges by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Communications between the Russian and US defense ministers over the incident in which a US drone crashed into the Black Sea hinted that both sides are trying to avoid an escalation of the situation despite showing no compromise on words, and the following encounter may focus on retrieving and dealing with the wreckage, analysts said.
The incident of a Russian fighter jet allegedly colliding with a US drone has attracted global attention, with growing worries over increasing direct confrontation between Russia and the US over the Ukraine crisis. Analysts said the incident may not escalate as both the US and Russia do not want it to get out of control, but the risks of similar incidents may increase if the US keeps up its frequent and aggressive global reconnaissance globally.
The navies of China, Iran and Russia are holding a joint maritime exercise starting Wednesday in a move to enhance cooperation as well as to safeguard maritime security and regional peace. Based on the consensus reached by the armed forces of China, Iran and Russia, the navies of the three countries will be holding the Security Belt-2023 joint maritime military exercise from Wednesday to Sunday in the Gulf of Oman, China's Ministry of National Defense (MOD) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Argentine Embassy in China said on Tuesday that the South American country is considering procuring the JF-17 aircraft, with Chinese analysts saying on Wednesday that the fighter jet jointly developed by China and Pakistan is the best choice for Argentina in terms of performance and availability.
China's first group of five female pilots flying J-11B fighter jets successfully completed their maiden solo training recently, proving women are as capable as male pilots in flying heavy fighter jets that are more physically demanding.
The leaders of Australia, the UK and the US announced details of the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program in California on Monday, a move that experts said on Tuesday is a part of a threatening underwater encirclement designed by the US to militarily confront China, and that China will need to prepare to defend itself.
China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has made smooth progress in mooring trials ahead of its expected maiden voyage later this year, analysts said on Monday, after the latest reports showed the ship has seemingly already tested its auxiliary power systems.
Australia is "planting a time bomb" for its own peace and that of the region, and it would bear the cost of the "expensive mistake" of following the US, Chinese experts warned, as the AUKUS leaders of the US, UK and Australia are expected to meet in San Diego, California and announce a mega nuclear submarine deal to arm Australia.
China reportedly launched two new Type 052D guided missile destroyers in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Friday, a move analysts said will contribute to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aim to become a blue-water navy.
Western media hyped on Sunday that General Li Shangfu, who has been endorsed by the national legislature as China's new defense minister, was once sanctioned by the US for purchasing Russian weapons for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), with experts saying that the US' sanction and the media hypes could cause extra trouble for communication between the two militaries at a time when military tensions are already high between the two countries.
Having obtained its combat training certificate last year, China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, is expected to hold far sea exercises beyond the first island chain soon, making up for the absence of the country's first carrier, the Liaoning, which started regular maintenance last month, experts said on Friday.
Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) said at the ongoing two sessions that China should continue its military's digitalization, informatization and intelligentization, with one J-20 stealth fighter jet pilot suggesting the military communications network development be improved, and a JH-7 fighter bomber pilot calling for implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in missions.
With the latest updates of Australia's possible purchases of five US Virgina class nuclear powered submarines being revealed by Western media in advance of the AUKUS meeting in the US, Chinese observers urged Canberra not to blindly follow Washington's strategy in containing Beijing, and risk its own national interests on economy and security only to serve Washington's interests.
Chinese public commemorated Wang Xiaomo, a renowned radar expert and the father of China's early warning aircraft, who passed away on Monday in Beijing due to illness at the age of 84, hailing Wang's outstanding contributions to the country.
China's limited national defense spending is completely set to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, a military delegation spokesperson said at the ongoing two sessions on Monday, after the country announced its plan to raise the defense budget by 7.2 percent in 2023.
China should enhance pilot training for strategic transport aircraft, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) urged in a motion at the ongoing two sessions, at a time when such aircraft are being commissioned to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force in large numbers, observers said on Monday.
China on Sunday announced a draft budget for 2023 which will see the country's annual defense budget rise to 1.5537 trillion yuan ($224.79 billion), an increase of 7.2 percent,remaining single-digit for the 8th consecutive year. Analysts said that the figure marks a reasonable and restrained boost amid military spending sprees by many other countries around the world in light of global security tensions.
The success of domestically developed Y-20 large transport aircraft is based on self-reliance and innovation and the development of large aircraft reflects a country's comprehensive capability, said national political advisor Tang Changhong during the ongoing two sessions.
China's new helicopter is already in the making, and Chinese helicopter designers are looking to accelerate its development, according to political advisor Wu Ximing, who is also the designer of the Z-10 attack helicopter, shortly prior to the ongoing annual Two Sessions.
Proportion of China's defense budget to its GDP has been stable for years and below world's average, and its increase rate is moderate and reasonable: spokesperson for the first session of the 14th NPC.
In the first US arms sale plan to the island of Taiwan in 2023, the administration of President Joe Biden has approved a possible deal for fighter jet missiles worth $619 million. The move was denounced by Chinese authorities on Thursday, with experts saying it will only escalate tensions between China and the US as well as between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan.
The Hainan, the first Type 075 amphibious assault ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, recently joined a flotilla and conducted a far sea exercise in the West Pacific, marking the first time that China has held an expeditionary voyage with a warship of this type.