China quietly carried out a sweeping military operation this week in the Western Pacific — its largest naval deployment in decades.
Taiwan defense officials called the unannounced exercise staggering, unprecedented, and extremely rare.
Here’s everything you need to know
https://x.com/shashj/status/1869405936928030854The Pentagon's annual report on Chinese military power is out. It has a number of interesting things in it.
https://x.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1870790720522752075China places massive order for kamikaze drones
Almost a million lightweight kamikaze drones were ordered - Not a good sign
A Chinese drone manufacturer has disclosed a massive government order for almost a million lightweight kamikaze drones, to be delivered by 2026.
The revelation, shared during a conversation with Defence Blog, highlights China’s rapidly expanding investment in unmanned aerial systems and their integration into modern warfare strategies.
According to the representative of Poly Technologies, this unprecedented contract has effectively monopolized their production capacity. “We already have an order for almost a million drones for our government, and we’re forced to turn down other clients to meet the demand,” the representative stated.
Details about the specific type or technical specifications of the drones remain undisclosed.
China’s focus on kamikaze drones, also known as loitering munitions, aligns with lessons drawn from recent global conflicts, particularly the extensive use of drones in Ukraine. The devastating effectiveness of Ukrainian military tactics employing light kamikaze and FPV drones has reportedly influenced Chinese military doctrine.
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has already begun incorporating drone warfare into its training programs. Footage and reports suggest the use of FPV drones and kamikaze drones in simulated combat scenarios to enhance the readiness of PLA forces.
The scale of the order raises questions about its intended purpose. While Beijing has not provided explicit details, many defense analysts believe this could signal preparations for a potential conflict involving Taiwan.
The drone manufacturer’s remarks also shed light on broader industry dynamics. When asked about potential exports to Russia, the manufacturer indicated that meeting domestic demand is currently a top priority. This statement underscores the prioritization of China’s defense capabilities over international sales, despite increasing global interest in Chinese drone technology.
China’s military-industrial complex has been rapidly advancing in the realm of unmanned systems. The PLA has placed significant emphasis on drones as force multipliers, particularly in areas like reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strikes. The integration of kamikaze drones provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for saturating enemy defenses, a tactic that has proven effective in various modern conflicts.
While it remains unclear whether other Chinese manufacturers have received similar orders, this development reflects a broader trend in China’s military build-up. Analysts note that such an extensive procurement aligns with the PLA’s objectives of modernizing and expanding its capabilities to prepare for potential large-scale engagements.
https://majandus.postimees.ee/8166426/h ... use-kaabliShunxing39 kaubalaev lõhkus ankrut mööda merepõhja lohistades merealust kaablit. Seda tegu nimetab Taipei sabotaažiks.
Taiwan palus Lõuna-Korealt abi uurimaks Hiinale kuuluvat laeva, keda kahtlustatakse reedel Taiwani põhjaranniku lähedal merealuse kaabli lõhkumises.
Taiwani telekom Chunghwa Telekom ja Taiwani rannavalve teatasid laupäeval, et kaubalaev Shunxing39 võis lõhkuda sidekaabli 3. jaanuari hommikul.
https://x.com/jurgen_nauditt/status/1876217741662724124Another telecommunications cable is believed to have fallen victim to a Chinese ship.
The cable near Taiwan that connected the island to the United States was damaged.
The Taiwanese coast guard said the ship weighed anchor at the site of the damage on January 3.
The ship flies the flag of Cameroon but is owned by Chinese company Jie Yang Trading Limited.
The democratic countries do not defend themselves - consequence - russia and China are becoming more and more aggressive.
https://x.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1876314986047541266China simulating surprise US missile attack in South China Sea
Chinese war gamers play out successful US stealth long-range missile strike on PLA carrier group in contested sea.
China’s simulated defense against a US stealth missile assault reveals a high-stakes battle for technological supremacy pitting stealth versus counter-stealth capabilities in the contested South China Sea.
This month, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that Chinese scientists have simulated a surprise US attack on a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carrier group in the South China Sea, revealing key details about the US military’s latest stealth anti-ship missile, the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).
According to SCMP, the simulation, led by researcher Wang Tianxiao from the North China Institute of Computing Technology, aimed to enhance the PLA’s countermeasures and tactics. It mentions that the simulated battle occurred near the Pratas Islands, with the US launching a large-scale attack using ten LRASMs.
These missiles, known for their radar stealth capabilities and nearly 1,000-kilometer range, targeted a Chinese destroyer in the simulation. Despite electronic warfare interference deployed by the PLA, the missiles switched to thermal imaging cameras and successfully hit the target.
SCMP says the simulation’s unprecedented realism and detailed parameters could significantly impact future military strategies. However, the SCMP report points out that the data used in the simulation remains unclear, with the Chinese team claiming it came from open-source intelligence and long-term accumulation.
It adds that the US military classified the LRASM’s technical parameters and operational methods, making the Chinese team’s claims difficult to verify independently.
The Chinese simulation’s choice of using stealthy cruise missiles over hypersonic weapons may reflect the advantages the former has over the latter and the fact that the US has not yet fielded any hypersonic weapons. Thus, using stealthy cruise missiles against Chinese targets is more likely in a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait in the short to medium term.
Asia Times mentioned in September 2024 that stealth cruise missiles like the LRASM offer several advantages over hypersonic missiles.
Firstly, their low radar cross-section and minimal infrared signature make them difficult for enemy defenses to detect and intercept. Secondly, they reduce dependency on external intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, ensuring effectiveness in intense electromagnetic warfare environments.
Thirdly, their capability to coordinate attacks through data-sharing among multiple missiles provides swarm capabilities, allowing for coordinated, high-precision strikes.
In contrast, hypersonic missiles, despite their extreme speeds, create unique phenomena such as plasma wakes and chemical reactions, which could make them easier to detect. Additionally, the distinctive plumes and wavelengths of light they leave behind can be tracked by advanced sensors.
Despite the simulation’s results, China may have multiple options to defeat the stealthy US LRASM, such as directed-energy weapons, counter-stealth technology and “shooting the archer” – destroying the launch aircraft or ships before they come into range.
Unlike conventional gun and missile systems, laser weapons give instantaneous hits with a virtually unlimited ammunition magazine at negligible cost. These attributes make them ideal for countering drone and cruise missile attacks.
Asia Times mentioned in August 2024 that China has made significant strides in laser weapon technology, as evidenced by the upgrade of its Type 071 amphibious ship, Shiming Shan, with an advanced laser weapon system.
The laser system, whose specifics remain undisclosed, is expected to bolster defenses against unmanned aircraft and small boat swarms, potentially including dazzler capabilities to blind sensors and seekers.
However, laser weapons are still in their early development stage and they face significant drawbacks such as substantial space and power requirements, diminished effectiveness at longer ranges and sensitivity to atmospheric conditions.
China could also use advanced detection technologies alongside next-generation aircraft to defeat stealthy cruise missiles such as the LRASM, enabling the interception of both the missile and its launching aircraft.
Asia Times mentioned in November 2024 that simulations by the PLA National Defense University and the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Game in Beijing revealed that China’s new counter-stealth radars could detect F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters from up to 180 kilometers.
The simulations, which modeled a US attack on Shanghai from Japan, highlighted vulnerabilities in the stealth shields of the F-22 and F-35, mainly when the F-35 operates in “beast mode,” making it detectable from 450 kilometers away. These findings come amid increased US deployment of F-22s in Japan, intensifying China’s focus on countering stealth threats.
China’s investment in radar technology includes a cost-effective system that uses signals from the BeiDou navigation satellite system to detect stealth aircraft. This radar employs a unique algorithm to identify targets without emitting detectable signals, enhancing China’s anti-stealth capabilities.
Furthermore, Asia Times reported this month that China’s reveal of its new stealth aircraft, the J-36 and J-50, marks a significant leap in its military aviation capabilities.
The J-36, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, features a tailless, delta-wing design to reduce radar signature and enhance stealth. Equipped with three engines, it emphasizes high-speed flight and long-range operations, making it suitable for air superiority and strike missions. The J-36’s design includes large weapon bays capable of carrying substantial payloads, indicating its role in air-to-air and air-to-surface combat.
On the other hand, the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation’s J-50 is a twin-engine stealth fighter designed for versatility in contested environments. Its advanced stealth technologies and avionics make it a formidable opponent in air superiority and strike roles.
Furthermore, Asia Times mentioned in December 2024 that China could use hypersonic weapons from air, sea and land to attack US targets. The YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship missile, fired from its Type 055 cruisers, is a formidable weapon against US surface combatants such as Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
While China’s simulation of an LRASM attack resulted in the loss of a destroyer, the scenario may be simulating a one-off incident that does not account for a possible war of attrition at sea.
China is the world’s largest shipbuilder, producing three-quarters of global shipbuilding orders in 2024. Thanks to military-civil fusion, China’s shipbuilding capacity also translates to naval power. China’s shipbuilding capacity has surged past that of the US, with the former’s shipbuilding capacity 232 times greater than the latter.
Furthermore, the US Department of Defense’s 2024 China Military Power Report states that the PLA Navy (PLA-N) is numerically the world’s largest navy, with 370 ships and 140 major surface combatants.
Such formidable shipbuilding capacity means that China could quickly build new warships and repair damaged ones, ensuring numerical superiority that trumps short-lived technological advantages and which historically has been the decisive factor in naval warfare.
https://x.com/ianellisjones/status/1876452478335828022Revealing WSJ report
Chinese hackers have the ability to shut down U.S. ports, power grids, and other infrastructure targets at will.
The National Security Agency (NSA) observed that Beijing was starting to lay the cyber groundwork in the U.S. for a potential Taiwan invasion.
China Suddenly Building Fleet Of Special Barges Suitable For Taiwan Landings
Anyone wondering what an invasion of Taiwan might look like now has a fresh visual clue. Defence analysts watching Chinese shipyards have noticed an increase in a particular type of vessel.
A number of special and unusual barges, at least 3 but likely 5 or more, have been observed in Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China. These have unusually long road bridges extending from their bows. This configuration makes them particularly relevant to any future landing of PRC (People’s Republic of China) forces on Taiwanese islands.
Naval News has seen multiple sources confirming their construction, and has shared information with naval experts to validate our preliminary analysis. The consensus is that these are most likely for amphibious landings.
Chinese PLA barges for amphibious landings already being tested.
https://x.com/tshugart3/status/1881429082505883825Many folks probably saw @CovertShores
' recent find: that China is building multiple special vessels seemingly intended to transfer vehicles ashore in support of a PRC invasion of Taiwan.
What follows is an update, based on high-res imagery I've acquired:
Let's start with overall numbers. @CovertShores indicated in his article that there are, "3 but likely 5 or more...".
I'd put the emphasis on "or more", as I count what looks like 7 in this image of the GSI Longxue Island shipyard taken on 28 November 2024
Both undersea cables connecting Taiwan and Matsu are disconnected, says theMinistry of Digital Affairs.
The ministry is responding.
Here is a comprehensive visual detailing China's PLA activity around Taiwan through January 2025
https://x.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1890573753563877830Video of the Chinese J-16 fighter jet deploying flares and chaff 30m in front of the Australian P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft in the South China Sea.
See on 2024 septembrist, kui mitte varasemruger kirjutas: ↑15 Veebr, 2025 6:46 Hiina hävitaja lasi flaresid Austraalia mereväe luurelennuki eeshttps://x.com/IndoPac_Info/status/1890573753563877830Video of the Chinese J-16 fighter jet deploying flares and chaff 30m in front of the Australian P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft in the South China Sea.
https://x.com/Michael71T/status/1891028926064955821Japanese Coast Guard intercepted a Chinese Maritime Militia boat, sailing illegally inside Japanese territory near #Senkaku Island.
Upon being asked to leave the area, the Chinese boat deliberately collided with the Japanese Coast Guard vessel!
https://x.com/World_At_War_6/status/1892869135186493599The Australian and New Zealand militaries were monitoring three Chinese warships moving unusually far south along Australia’s east coast on an unknown mission. Source: AP
https://x.com/clashreport/status/1892479299845845212The Australian navy is closely monitoring a Chinese naval task group sailing 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, marking China’s furthest southward venture along Australia’s eastern coast. Two Australian warships are shadowing the Chinese flotilla, which includes the frigate Hengyang, cruiser Zunyi, and a supply vessel.
https://x.com/ChinaGSProject/status/1893822228942233726Beijing on Sunday said Canberra had "deliberately hyped" recent Chinese naval exercises near the Australian coast and confirmed its forces had used live fire in an incident that rattled Australian policymakers.
https://x.com/TheTakePolitics/status/18 ... 7732067503China’s navy on recent days sailed within 150 miles of the Australian coast near Sydney. They conducted live fire drills on Friday and Saturday off the coast of Australia and now New Zealand which forced multiple airlines to change flight paths between the two countries
https://x.com/myrddenbuckley/status/1893126118946853324China gives "unsatisfactory" answer for firing notification from warships off Australian coast, Minister says.
https://x.com/TheConsultant18/status/18 ... 9284515247One of three Chinesewarships currently in the Tasman Sea is one of most powerful weighting in at about 12,000 tonnes & equipped with 112 missile tubes.
The Renhai class guided missile cruiser Zunyi has twice the fire power of any Australian Navel vessel.
https://x.com/Michael71T/status/1893956658751066601If you think Chinese Maritime Militia is a threat only in South China Sea, you need to see this!
An Argentinian Coast Guard aircraft is keeping an eye on hundreds of Chinese fishing boats sailing illegally inside Argentina's EEZ!
Kasutajad foorumit lugemas: Registreeritud kasutajaid pole ja 1 külaline
Ministry of Digital Affairs.
warships currently in the Tasman Sea is one of most powerful weighting in at about 12,000 tonnes & equipped with 112 missile tubes.