China military

Commentary

Why China chooses to stay on the sidelines

Watching US President Donald Trump get bogged down by the Iran war and call for help is hardly a bad thing for China, which can claim more easily that it stands for stability while quietly tending its own interests, says the writer.

China rebuts Australia’s claim of ‘unsafe’ army chopper incident

China and Australia traded accusations over an encounter involving helicopters above the Yellow Sea.

Number of Chinese military flights around Taiwan falls, Trump-Xi meeting may be factor

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

China to spend 7% more on defence amid a widening graft purge in the military

The defence budget is closely watched as the gap between China’s military strength and those of other countries in the region continues to widen.

US arrests ex-Air Force pilot for training Chinese military

Gerald Brown later began a role as a US defence contractor training Chinese pilots to fly the A-10 and state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets.

More Chinese firms at Singapore Airshow, in push for wider reach in foreign skies

A display of team aerobatics by the J-10 combat aircrafts from the People's Liberation Army Air Force Bayi Aerobatic Team during the media preview at Changi Exhibition Centre on Feb 1, 2026. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM esair01

China targets ‘rats’ stealing military funds after launch of high-profile probe into top generals

The commentary called for discipline in key industries and areas of overlap between the military and local government.

China’s corruption watchdog probing emergency management minister

FILE PHOTO: The headquarters of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China is pictured in Beijing, China February 10, 2018. Picture taken February 10, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo

News analysis

Xi’s military purge of top general may set back his Taiwan ambitions

The purging of China's top general Zhang Youxia (above) last week was a stunning display of President Xi Jinping's autocratic dominance over the military.

Xi Jinping is immensely powerful. Why can’t he stamp out corruption?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been waging a fierce war against graft since he took power in 2012, jailing thousands of officials and punishing millions of others.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.