People's Liberation Army

Taiwan conducted runway repair drills at Hsinchu Air Base, home to its Mirage 2000-5 interceptor fighters, as part of the annual Han Kuang military exercises simulating a Chinese invasion. The practices included rearming jets and performing emergency takeoffs following simulated damage from long-range missiles or rockets. Experts warn that despite being well-equipped, the base is highly exposed to potential early missile strikes from mainland China.

China's military unveiled an AI system for coordinating mass air strikes, part of a global push to integrate AI into military operations. The system aids in target prioritization and resource allocation, following calls by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to enhance use of unmanned intelligent technologies. The US, Ukraine, and Russia are also advancing autonomous military systems.

China's factory activity contracted for the first time in five months, with the official manufacturing PMI dropping to 49.2 in July. Construction and services activity also declined, with non-manufacturing PMI falling to 49, the lowest since the pandemic.

The article discusses the 99th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). It highlights the event's significance as a major milestone for the military.

A senior Pentagon official stated that US-China military communication is stronger than in years past, marking a rare positive development in the strategic rivalry. Alvaro Smith, deputy assistant defense secretary for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, highlighted progress under Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership.

Taiwan produces the world’s most advanced semiconductors but lags in adopting AI for its military, creating a gap as China develops sophisticated AI-enabled defense technologies. The mismatch could weaken Taiwan’s deterrence against Chinese aggression and complicate coalition defense efforts with the U.S. and allies.

China has constructed full-size replicas of US warships, aircraft, and naval bases in desert areas to test missiles and AI systems, focusing on potential conflicts involving Taiwan. The replicas include models of US Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, F-35/F-16 jets, and Taiwanese government buildings, with training scenarios simulating attacks on US and Taiwanese military targets.

Mainland China's People's Liberation Army is conducting two-day live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait off Fujian's coastal waters, running from 6am to 6pm on Thursday and Friday. The drills are part of mid to late July training to enhance capabilities in harsh environments, including extreme heat.

Taiwan's AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar system detected a People's Liberation Army (PLA) ballistic missile launch from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South China Sea. The system tracked the missile's trajectory, and intelligence sharing with Washington contributed to Taiwan's awareness of the event.

China conducted a ballistic missile test in the South Pacific Ocean in 2026, demonstrating its nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile system. The test, part of annual exercises, showcased China's strategic nuclear capabilities and second-strike ability, with experts suggesting the message was primarily directed at the United States. The launch drew criticism from Pacific nations due to its use of international waters and historical concerns over nuclear testing in the region.

Apple is testing devices with Chinese-made DRAM produced by CXMT, a company reportedly linked to the People's Liberation Army. The company is described as US-blocked.

China test-fired a missile into the Pacific, prompting US-led international concern. The People's Liberation Army displayed DF-5C nuclear missiles during a military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025.

Apple is seeking an exception from the Trump administration to purchase RAM chips from CXMT, a Chinese supplier blacklisted by the Pentagon due to ties with the People's Liberation Army. The move aims to address supply chain pressures and rising RAM prices, which have led to increased product prices for Apple.

China removed six senior PLA officers from its top legislative body, indicating the continuation of President Xi Jinping’s military anti-corruption campaign. The National People’s Congress Standing Committee announced the removal of 13 members and one resignation, including a former financial regulator and an ex-Xinjiang party chief.

Alibaba is suing the US government to be removed from a blacklist of companies linked to China's People's Liberation Army. The lawsuit challenges the US government's decision to add Alibaba to the list.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea in June 2026 for meetings with Chairman Kim Jong Un, emphasizing expanded cooperation in trade, agriculture, construction, technology, and military affairs. The visit reaffirmed the 1961 Treaty of Friendship and highlighted North Korea's commitment to the one-China policy, while also sending strategic messages to Russia and the U.S.

The U.S. Intelligence Community identifies China as the leading competitor in AI, warning it aims to surpass the U.S. by 2030. While open-source Chinese AI models lag U.S. systems by 3-7 months, military integration of AI takes years, and China's centralized strategy accelerates military applications like autonomous drones and swarm intelligence. U.S. officials highlight risks from Chinese firms like Alibaba and Baidu, linked to military modernization.

China is constructing a network of launch pads, bunkers, and communications facilities near its nuclear missile silos in remote desert regions. Satellite images reveal over 80 pads for mobile missile launchers and air-defense systems, signaling a major expansion of hardened infrastructure to protect its land-based nuclear forces and ensure second-strike capability. Analysts link the development to intensified nuclear competition with the United States and rising tensions over Taiwan's sovereignty.

China's Central Military Commission, led by President Xi Jinping, has issued strict measures to enforce discipline and anti-corruption among senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officials. The rules focus on education, management, and supervision of high-ranking military cadres, as reported by state news agency Xinhua.

Congressional investigators found that JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley helped Chinese battery company CATL raise billions of dollars despite the Pentagon designating it as a military-linked firm. While the banks violated no U.S. law, the report argues they disregarded the government's military designation to earn millions in fees. The investigation highlights a policy gap where Pentagon designations lack enforcement mechanisms to prevent U.S. financial institutions from assisting restricted companies.

President Donald Trump meets President Xi Jinping in a high-stakes summit with the US holding the advantage due to its military and trade moves. Trump has strengthened America's position versus China, while Xi faces challenges such as a slowing economy. The meeting aims to establish a stable and balanced relationship between the two countries.

China's missile stockpiles are rapidly rising, indicating a significant increase in the country's military capabilities. This growth has potential implications for regional and global security. The exact nature and extent of China's missile expansion remain unclear.

Two former Chinese defense ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption. The sentences are part of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign within the armed forces. Both men were also stripped of their political rights for life and ordered to forfeit all personal property.

Xi Jinping has conducted extensive purges of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) since 2012, with a second major wave beginning around 2023 that has been far more extensive than previously understood. The CSIS China Power Project database documents over 100 senior PLA officers who have been purged or potentially purged since 2022, including six CMC members. These purges have significantly decimated the PLA's high command structure.

The U.S. Justice Department filed a forfeiture complaint against two anti-submarine warfare crew trainers being shipped from South Africa to China's People's Liberation Army. The mobile classroom trainers were intended to help the PLA train personnel on airborne warning and control systems and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

China and Russia maintain deep military ties centered on arms sales and joint exercises, though they have avoided a formal alliance. Russian military aid has been crucial to modernizing China's PLA, but tensions exist over Chinese technology theft and decreasing reliance on Russian weapons. The relationship's military dimension has evolved from the Soviet Union's massive support during the Korean War to contemporary strategic cooperation.