Latest news with #PLA
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China extends strike range of Type 055 destroyer with airborne early warning system: CCTV
China's most powerful destroyer can now strike beyond visual-range targets with pinpoint precision by linking to an airborne early warning system – the same technology used by the Pakistan Air Force in the recent Kashmir conflict – according to state broadcaster CCTV. On Sunday, CCTV confirmed for the first time that the Type 055 stealth guided-missile destroyer Lhasa could use data links to synchronise with People's Liberation Army's airborne early warning platforms, enabling it to conduct long-range anti-ship and air-defence strikes without relying solely on the ship's radars. Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor and military commentator, said this represented a major advance in operational coordination. 02:29 Chinese nationalism surges across social media as viral video mocks downed Indian jets Chinese nationalism surges across social media as viral video mocks downed Indian jets 'Battlefield data fusion – what we call 'situation connectivity' – means complete interoperability and seamless information sharing across domains,' he said. CCTV footage showed the Lhasa taking part in a live-fire exercise involving multi-service coordination under the PLA's Northern Theatre Command, firing missiles guided by airborne targeting cues. Shipborne helicopters and sensors fed data into the combat centre for simultaneous sea‑and‑air engagements, the report said. 'We used data links to share battlefield awareness in real time with the early warning aircraft, significantly expanding our detection range,' Wang Mingwei, a senior sergeant on the Lhasa, told CCTV. 'It allows us to identify both air and sea threats far beyond visual range.' Song said the networked capability mirrored Pakistan's use of the same Chinese technology to shoot down Indian fighters near the disputed Kashmir region.
India.com
16 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
Operation Sindoor: China SHOCKED by Pakistan's defeat, Beijing to provide its deadliest weapon to Pak army to..., its capable of...
(File) Operation Sindoor: Shocked and stunned by the crushing defeat of Pakistan in its recent military conflict with India, China is now making additional efforts to enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of its 'all-weather ally'. Beijing recently approved a fresh $3.7 billion loan to Islamabad, which the cash-strapped country will reportedly use to acquire Chinese-made weapons, including one of PLA's most advanced and deadliest weapons, a Z-10ME attack helicopter. Pakistan to acquire Chinese attack helicopters According to reports, the Chinese attack helicopter will be assembled in Pakistan where it will also be augmented with Turkish-made weapons. China plans to deliver at least Z-10ME helicopters to Pakistan, they said. Earlier, Pakistan had attempted to acquire US-made AH-1Z Weaver helicopters, and T129 ATAK helicopters from Turkey, but both countries refused to sell due to export restrictions. Turkey's T129 ATAK's are built using US-supplied components, which bars them from selling these warplanes to a third country without US consent. China's most lethal attack chopper Built to counter India's LCH Prachand attack helicopter, China's Z-10ME attack helicopters are considered by experts as the deadliest attack choppers in PLA's (People Liberation Army of China) arsenal. As per reported, in its efforts to increase self-reliance in defense manufacturing, Pakistan will jointly manufacture the Z-10MEs with China. The helicopter will also be integrated with state-of-the-art weapons from Turkey, which carved a niche as a global leader in manufacture of military helicopters. Reports suggest the Chinese Z-10MEs could be Turkish-made UMTAS anti-tank guided missile, which boasts a firing range of 8 kilometers, and is a 'fire and forget' missile. Additionally, there are also plans to install Turkish laser guided rockets, advanced avionics suite as well as advanced sensors for navigation in the Z-10ME attack helicopter, as per reports. According to experts, Pakistan intends to employ the Z-10MEs to conduct anti-terror operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as for surveillance on the Line of Control (LoC) with India. LCH Prachand– India's answer to Chinese Z-10ME Meanwhile, India's answer to the Z-10ME is is the Prachand, an indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), designed for multi-role combat, especially in high-altitude operations. Designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the LCH Prachand is built for both ground attack and aerial missions in extreme conditions, such as in high-altitude combat zones like Ladakh and Siachen Glacier. Last year, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) placed a $6.1 billion order with HAL for 156 LCH Prachand helicopters, while several countries including, Nigeria, Argentina and the Philippines have expressed interest in purchasing the Indian-made attack helicopter.
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First Post
17 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Taiwan tensions mount as China and US ramp up military posturing in Pacific
China's military behaviour around Taiwan has changed from occasional show of strength to relentless organised pressure. This may mean China is moving from psychological tactics to becoming a state for real conflict. In recent months, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has shown it can quickly move from peace to war, according to top Taiwanese officials and US defence experts. China's air force and missile systems—important for any invasion of Taiwan—are now advanced enough to act with little warning. A senior Taiwanese military official told the Financial Times on May 26, 2025, that these units could 'switch from peacetime to war operations any time'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China's military flights near Taiwan are at record highs. Warplanes now enter Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) more than 245 times a month, compared to fewer than 10 five years ago. Over 120 times each month, these aircraft cross the Taiwan Strait's median line, which used to act as an unofficial boundary. On May 27 alone, 61 Chinese planes reportedly flew near Taiwan, including 27 J-16s and KJ-500s, entering several parts of the ADIZ. Along with air activity, China's navy is also very active. The PLA Navy, especially with its powerful Type 052D destroyers, often sails through important sea routes like the Miyako Strait and Bashi Channel, according to the Financial Times. Yang Tai-yuan, a former instructor in Taiwan's Army Command, said these actions are likely practice for wider Pacific missions. The goal is to avoid getting trapped near China's own coast during war. A US defence official warned that China could block Taiwan's access to the sea 'in a matter of hours.' China's amphibious forces—those trained to land on beaches—have also improved. Six brigades are based just across the water from Taiwan and train often at ports that could be used to start an invasion. These troops use high-tech transport and scouting tools, including the PCH-191 rocket launcher, which can hit any part of Taiwan from mainland China. Taiwanese officials say these forces have taken part in every military drill focused on Taiwan since 2022. Washington's counterweight In direct response to China's rapid militarisation and mounting aggression, the US has bolstered its regional deterrence strategy, focussing on advanced missile deployments and joint exercises with allies. The most visible of these efforts has been the unprecedented stationing of anti-ship missile launchers on Batan Island in the Philippines—just miles from Taiwan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Associated Press reported in April that these mobile platforms, part of the US Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, enhance the Pentagon's ability to deny Chinese forces access to key maritime routes like the Bashi Channel. These systems are part of a broader framework, which includes the forward deployment of long-range Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles and Standard Missile-6 systems. Their strategic placement allows the US to project power into mainland China's range and bolster Philippine defence. Meanwhile, annual military exercises such as Balikatan have evolved from training drills to simulations of full-scale war, involving over 9,000 American and 5,000 Filipino troops, with support from Australian and Japanese observers. These exercises, though publicly labelled non-provocative, occur in the very waters contested by China, especially near the volatile South China Sea. Such deployments are meant not only to contain China militarily but also to reassure regional allies. According to Philippine Brigadier General Michael Logico, these combat scenarios 'strengthen deterrence against aggression in the Bashi Channel'. However, China has fiercely criticised the US presence, labelling these actions as escalatory and provocative, further deepening strategic mistrust. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Progress and pitfalls: China's military modernisation in focus While the PLA's transformation under Xi Jinping has been monumental in scope—expanding its capabilities in air, sea, cyber and space domains—its practical readiness for large-scale modern conflict remains contested. The reforms, particularly the 2015 overhaul that broke traditional command units into more agile, joint-operation formations, have enhanced operational flexibility. However, critics argue that institutional weaknesses remain. The CNN report from February this year, citing the RAND Corporation, contended that the PLA's modernisation serves the primary function of bolstering Communist Party legitimacy rather than genuine warfighting capabilities. Political control mechanisms—such as mandatory ideological training and dual-command structures involving political commissars—are said to undermine command responsiveness and operational autonomy. Timothy Heath, the report's author, argued that nearly 40 per cent of PLA training is consumed by political indoctrination, which dilutes combat readiness. While some experts dismissed this conclusion as overly optimistic about China's weaknesses, there is broad consensus that the PLA faces challenges in adapting high-tech assets into effective combat forces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Collin Koh of Singapore's Rajaratnam School noted that while the PLA has constructed a formidable navy, adequately training and maintaining a skilled corps to operate these modern warships remains a bottleneck. Corruption within the PLA's upper echelons, as detailed in a December Pentagon report, continues to disrupt strategic continuity and resource allocation. Nonetheless, US intelligence believes Xi has instructed the PLA to attain full operational capability to invade Taiwan by 2027—a goal which, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo, may already be partially achieved in domains such as rocketry and satellite surveillance. Dangerous brinkmanship The growing military actions by both China and the United States are making it more likely that something could go wrong by accident. Taiwan is stuck in the middle of this power struggle and faces almost daily signs of how risky the situation is. With both sides building up their military forces, there's a bigger chance that a normal incident—like a plane flying into restricted airspace or a ship getting too close—could suddenly lead to serious conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Quincy Institute has called Taiwan the most dangerous hotspot in US-China relations. In a report from January 2024, it explained that deep mistrust, old conflicts and political pressure at home have created a tense situation where both countries prepare for the worst. Because of this 'zero-sum' mindset, each side sees the other's actions as threatening and wrong, making peaceful solutions harder to find. The line between military training and actual war preparation is becoming unclear. US officials have pointed this out, especially when talking about China's drills and the US-Philippines 'Balikatan' exercises. Admiral Paparo warned that what looks like a training drill—what he called 'the fig leaf of an exercise'—could be used as an excuse to start real fighting. This shows just how fragile the current situation really is. Taiwan on alert Taiwan's response to this increasingly militarised environment has been resolute and pragmatic. Recognising the immediacy of the threat, Taipei has embarked on a sweeping overhaul of its defence strategy. As reported by Firstpost and Focus Taiwan, the island has extended compulsory military service to one year, revised training programmes to reflect asymmetric warfare doctrines and expanded its use of drones, mobile radars and air defence systems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Defence Minister Wellington Koo and President Lai Ching-te have framed this transformation not as reactionary but as an essential safeguard against what Lai described as a looming 'war of endurance'. Taiwan is stockpiling military supplies and refining its troop deployments with an emphasis on resilience and mobility. The upcoming Han Kuang drills from July 9 to 18 are designed to test the island's readiness for a multi-front assault, with special focus on counter-invasion scenarios and coastal defence. President Lai has stressed that psychological readiness is just as important as tactical planning, indicating that Taiwan might need to brace for a prolonged conflict. His administration's focus on strengthening public resilience, increasing civic awareness and enhancing international cooperation reflects Taiwan's broader aim to not only improve its defence but also reinforce its position as a key democratic stronghold in the increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region. Strategic stalemate or collision course? The strategic relationship between China, US and Taiwan is now very unstable. China sees taking back Taiwan as a key national goal—something it wants to achieve by 2049, or even as early as 2027. On the other side, US is firmly committed, both in military and political terms, to stopping any one-sided change in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan, caught in the middle, wants to keep control of its own affairs without triggering a conflict—a task that becomes harder every time China's military acts or the US places more weapons nearby. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This three-sided situation has led to a constant back-and-forth. When China sends out its military, the US responds with joint exercises and more weapons, which then leads to even more Chinese military activity. Reports from the Financial Times, CNN and the Associated Press all show that each move is seen not as a single event, but as something that could possibly start a war. It's still uncertain whether calm leadership will win out. Some experts, like Timothy Heath, believe that China mainly wants political stability—not war. But even if that's true, the massive increase in military power can't be ignored. At the same time, while the US says its moves are for defence, bringing its forces closer to China's region makes conflict more likely. A region on the edge The Taiwan Strait is no longer just a geographical divide—it is a fault line between competing world orders. As China accelerates its military preparations, deploying new amphibious units and airpower to enable swift transition to conflict and as US responds with powerful deterrent systems across the Pacific theatre, the region edges ever closer to a tipping point. Taiwan, under immense pressure, is fortifying itself both materially and psychologically, aware that it may be forced to defend its autonomy with arms. The rhetoric of peace is slowly being drowned out by the cadence of war drums. With each sortie, missile drill and naval deployment, the prospects for dialogue diminish. A conflict may not be inevitable—but without serious recalibration and renewed diplomacy, it is no longer unthinkable.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
PLA attack on Taiwan ‘unlikely' but ‘not impossible' with Trump in White House: report
People's Liberation Army (PLA) attack on Taiwan is 'unlikely in the near future' but 'not impossible', given the risks of misperception and miscommunication with the US under President Donald Trump , a British think tank has warned. The US–China relationship is 'more strained than it has ever been at any other point in the 21st century', according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which published its latest Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment on Wednesday. The release of the report's 2025 edition comes ahead of this week's Shangri-La Dialogue , Asia's premier annual defence summit held in Singapore and co-organised by the IISS. Tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues such as trade, technology and Taiwan were setting the tone of a relationship characterised by 'deep mutual distrust and a lack of dialogue mechanisms', the report said. It noted some tactical improvements during the previous Biden administration, such as the resumption of military-to-military dialogue and an agreement not to include artificial intelligence in nuclear decision-making, but cautioned that these were unlikely to 'significantly alter the strategic direction of the two great powers' during Trump's second term in office. 'Trump's first term [2017-2021] saw the US launch its first Indo-Pacific strategy in 2017, which made clear that the region had become a priority for Washington. Central to this strategy was an acknowledgement that Chinese coercion and influence undermined the interests of the US and countries in the Asia-Pacific,' the report said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Balrampur Chini unveils eco-friendly input for making single-use products
With single-use plastic products facing regulatory curbs, those made of an eco-friendly material viz. Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), produced from sugarcane, is finding acceptance as an alternative across the world. With a bit of policy support in India, PLA can replace polyethylene, the raw material for single use plastic. Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. (BCML), one of India's biggest sugar manufacturers has taken the lead to tap this opportunity and is popularising PLA under the brandBalrampur Bioyug which will be supplied to small-scale units to make eco-friendly single-use products. The brand was formally unveiled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. BCML is currently setting up a PLA plant with an investment of ₹2,850 crore at its existing sugar factory in Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh. This plant would be India's first industrial-scale biopolymer plant and powered by 100% renewable energy for its entire production process. This will be the first plant location where sugarcane will be transformed into PLA in a single, integrated site, as per the company. To popularise the products among producers and consumers, the company has rolled out a fully equipped bus called Bioyog on Wheels that will go around the country to demonstrate the production of eco-friendly products on the spot and carry the message of circular economy and sustainable living. Vivek Saraogi, Chairman & Managing Director, BCML said, 'Our PLA venture is well- aligned with the sustainability goals ...to combat climate change. India has got its first BioE3 policy which boasts of a fantastic forward-looking framework driving sustainability through bioenergy, bioeconomy, and green innovation. 'Additionally with the roll-out of the Uttar Pradesh Government's first-ever Bioplastic Policy, we felt empowered to confidently enter this dynamic sector, aligning growth with national environmental goals,' he said. Avantika Saraogi, Executive Director, BCML said, 'Today, we didn't just unveil a brand — we launched a transformative movement. Bioyug marks a pivotal step in India's transition to a bio-based, low-carbon economy.' 'With its strong agro-industrial base, Maharashtra can emerge as the nation's leading bioplastic market. I humbly urge all stakeholders to support MSMEs through policy incentives, regulatory support, and awareness-building. Together, we can shift from fossil-based pollution to plant-based progress,' she said. Stefan Barot, President – Chemicals Division, BCML said, 'With an annual capacity of 80,000 tonnes, Balrampur Bioyug will produce 100% bio-based, industrially compostable PLA—offering a credible and scalable solution to the global plastic crisis.' 'As a versatile polymer derived from renewable resources, PLA has the mechanical strength and durability needed for a wide range of uses while being far more sustainable,' he said. 'It is ideally suited to replace banned single-use plastic items such as straws, disposable cutlery, trays, bottles, and curd cups—without compromising on performance or safety,' he added.
