On May 31st, the Shuiqiao class Landing Platform Utility (LPU) barges continued to conduct an exercise at Hepu Dasha Beach at Nantian Island, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.

On May 19th, CCTV’s News Live released a news segment that announced the Liaoning aircraft carrier departed to conduct a training exercise in the Western Pacific.

In March, an image appeared showing the PLA Army’s 5th Amphibious Combined Arms Brigade (ACAB) posing with honor flags the unit received for participating in conflicts, ranging from the Long March and Korean War to the Battle of Laoshan.

In early May, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) released a statement in response to a reporter’s question regarding the PLA Navy’s (PLAN) assembly of the aircraft carrier five piece set.

In late April, the PLA Daily published an article about the Fujian aircraft carrier conducting an integrated training exercise with its embarked carrier wing in the Bohai Sea.

In late March, a PLA Navy (PLAN) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) company stationed at the Eastern Theater Command’s Zhoushan Naval Base conducted an emergency response training exercise.

On April 27th, the Type 076/Yulan class LHA, the Sichuan, left Shili Military Port in Zhanjiang, to conduct its third sea trial in the South China Sea (SCS).

In mid-April, the PLA Daily published an article about a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) aviation brigade likely based in the Southern Theater Command (STC).

The accelerated construction of the Type 004 aircraft carrier continued in late 2025 and early 2026 after the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) began the project in 2024.

In late February 2026, the PLA Xizang (Tibet) Military District published a video that showed personnel, likely from the 53rd Mountain Combined Arms Brigade, conducting a live-fire training exercise at a PLAA base that involved soldiers firing a new 64mm double-barrel grenade discharger.

In mid-March, the PLA Daily published an article about a YY-20A aerial refueling aircraft from the 38th Air Regiment that supported a flight of jet aircraft during their training exercise.

On April 4th, the Shuiqiao class Landing Platform Utility (LPU) barges are conducting an exercise at Hepu Dasha Beach at Nantian Island, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. www.wsj.com/world/china/...

In this Quick Take for the China Landpower Studies Center, I explain how the 112th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade (HCAB) will receive the ZTZ-99B Main Battle Tank (MBT) to develop the doctrine to effectively employ it during combat operations. ssi.armywarcollege.edu/SSI-Media/Re...

In late February, a People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) brigade located in the Southern Theater Command conducted various exercises during the Chinese New Year.

The below image allegedly showing the Liaowang-1 deployed to the Gulf of Oman to assist Iran is part of a video that was originally posted to Douyin in mid-2025. The following article provides additional information about the Liaowang-1’s image and its origin. www.misbar.com/amp/en/factc...

In mid-January, the crew from the Type 054B/Jiangkai III class frigate, the Luohe, conducted a live-fire shore bombardment exercise that involved the use of UAVs to correct the ship’s fire.

In mid-February, a clip from a larger CCTV National Defense and Military Channel segment showed a KJ-600 carrier-borne Airborne Early Warning and Command (AEW&C) aircraft launching from the Fujian aircraft carrier.

In early February, an image of a J-15T carrier based multirole aircraft flying with two YJ-15 Anti Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCM) on its air intake hardpoints in Lingshui, Hainan province.

In late January, the Type 052DL/Luyang III class destroyer, the Guilin, sailed out to conduct its first sea trial after completing repairs to its hull, which sustained damage after colliding with a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship in August 2025.

My article about the PLANMC tank companies and how it enhances the branch’s expeditionary capabilities is out now with the China Landpower Studies Center’s Quick Takes. ssi.armywarcollege.edu/SSI-Media/Re...

On January 24th, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced that CMC Vice Chairman, General Zhang Youxia, and CMC Joint Staff Department (JSD) Chief of Staff, General Liu Zhenli, were placed under investigation by the CCP’s Central Committee for “serious violations of discipline and law.”

In mid-January, the Type 052DL/Luyang III class destroyer, the Guilin, is in the final stages of maintenance and repair after its hull received extensive damage from the August 2025 incident near Scarborough Shoal.

On January 16th, the second set of Shuiqiao-class Landing Platform Utility (LPU) barges is still undergoing their first test on the beach at Nansan Island. The bridges of the first two barges are lowered, with the middle one connected to the other.

On January 3rd, the PLAAF 5th Air Brigade conducted training with its J-20A stealth air superiority fighters at Nanning Airbase, located at Guilin Airfield.

On January 15th, the second set of Shuiqiao class Landing Platform Utility (LPU) barges appeared on a beach on Nansan Island, located approximately 16.43 miles (26.44 kilometers) southeast of Zhanjiang.

On January 2nd, Xinhua News released a CCTV video segment titled “We look forward to the official unveiling of the H-20 and the J-36.” CCTV military commentator Du Wenlong stated that the H-20 stealth bomber is expected to be officially unveiled in 2026.

The Amphibious Task Force that consists of the Type 075/Yushen class LHD, the Hainan, and the Type 055/Renhai class cruiser Yan’an participated in the ongoing Justice Mission-2025 exercise in waters off of southeastern Taiwan.

Welp, China decided not to end 2025 without conducting a rehearsal of one of their OpPlans for a blockade or invasion of Taiwan. x.com/ChinaMilBugl...

In 2023, the People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) expanded to 11 units from the previous eight brigades.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) incorporated the PHL-81 Multiple Rocket Launcher System (MRLS) during the same period as it switched to the PCL-181 Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH).

On December 18th, the Fujian aircraft carrier arrived at Huangdao Naval Base and is likely berthed opposite the Liaoning.

On December 16th, the Fujian aircraft carrier entered the Taiwan Strait as it sailed towards northern China. The carrier is likely heading to the Yellow Sea to conduct sea trials or other types of drills. x.com/songs349/sta...

On December 14th, the Fujian aircraft carrier left Yulin Naval Base to conduct its second shakedown cruise.

In mid-October, an artillery battalion from the People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC) 4th Marine Brigade conducted a multi-day live fire exercise at the Zhurihe Combined Tactical Training Base.

In early November, the 74th Group Army’s 16th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade (HCAB) conducted a joint maritime transport exercise with the 311th Coastal Defense Brigade’s boat squadron at a training base in eastern Guangdong.

The below post discusses the recent movements of the Liaoning Carrier Group in the Ryukyu Island Chain. The heading indicates that the carrier group could conduct operations on the Japanese mainland, specifically Honshu and Kyushu. x.com/songs349/sta...

Below is the link to yesterday's press conference held by Japan's Ministry of Defence, which discussed the incident involving two PLAN J-15s and JASDF F-15Js off the southeast coast of Okinawa. x.com/ModJapan_jp/...

The Liaoning aircraft carrier, the Type 055/Renhai class cruiser, the Nanchang, a Type 052D/Luyang III class destroyer, the Xining, and a Type 052DL destroyer, the Kaifeng, sailed into the Philippine Sea on December 6th. x.com/jointstaffpa...

This episode should be extremely interesting, especially with the recent tensions between Japan and China over Taiwan. x.com/IndoPacPodca...

Satellite imagery by Vantor and published by Andrew Greene @thenightly.bsky.social shows the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) flotilla sailing at least 500 nautical miles (926 kilometers) north of Palau on December 3rd.

On November 28th, the Type 076/Yulan class LHA, the Sichuan, departed Jiangnan Shipyard to conduct its second sea trial. The ship conducted its first sea trial from November 13th to November 16th in waters north of Shanghai.

These ships are likely the PLAN vessels that sailed through the Ōsumi Strait in mid-November. The LHD is likely one of the amphibious ships that recently conducted exercises off the coast of China. www.mod.go.jp/js/pdf/2025/... x.com/stephendzied...

On November 25th, the Shuiqiao class Landing Platform Utility (LPU) barges completed their exercise at Nantian Island, Zhejiang. The barges began the exercise on November 12th when they departed Yuhuan Naval Piers and sailed to Hepu Dasha Beach.

In mid-November, the Type 052DL/Luyang III class destroyer, the Guilin, completed repairs after its hull was damaged due to a collision with the China Coast Guard (CCG) Jiangdao Mod class patrol cutter, the Nanyu, near Scarborough Shoal in August 2025.

In late November, video appeared of a Type 721II/Yupen class Landing Craft Utility (LCU) sailing at approximately 6 knots in a harbor while carrying four 32-round 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems (MLRS), three painted sky blue and one in olive green, mounted on its deck.

On November 5th, China commissioned the Fujian aircraft carrier at Sanya, Hainan.

In 2021, China introduced the Type 21 combat boots to provide the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police (PAP) with a modern replacement to the Type 07 boots.

In early November, an image of a new LCM was shown in an issue of a Chinese magazine.

The Type 076 returned to Jiangnan Shipyard after completing its first sea trial, which involved conducting tests of the LHA's various systems. x.com/ChinaMilBugl...

I gave some comments and analysis about the Fujian aircraft carrier, the differences between it and its predecessors, and how the carrier ties into China’s naval strategy. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...