Notes from ChinaFile
06.07.23The U.S. May Be Overstating China’s Technological Prowess
China’s technological prowess is frequently invoked by U.S. policymakers hoping to get votes, attention, or enough bipartisan support to pass a bill. Competition with China was a central motivating factor in federal legislation like the CHIPS and...
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05.14.18Recent Developments Surrounding the South China Sea
Associated Press
Weekly look at the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts that have raised tensions in the region.
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05.04.18Chinese Lasers Injure Us Military Pilots in Africa, Pentagon Says
CNN
Chinese personnel at the country's first overseas military base in Djibouti have been using lasers to interfere with US military aircraft at a nearby American base, activity that has resulted in injuries to US pilots
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05.01.18White House Considers Restricting Chinese Researchers over Espionage Fears
New York Times
U.S. may bar Chinese from sensitive research at universities and research institutes.
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03.06.18China Boosts Defense Budget in Quest for ‘World Class’ Military but Tells Neighbors Not to Worry
Washington Post
China’s government said Monday that it will boost its defense spending by 8.1 percent this year, the biggest increase in three years, even as it insists that it poses no threat to other countries.
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02.14.18China and Russia Are Catching up with Military Power of US and West, Say Leading Defence Experts
Independent
China and Russia are challenging the military supremacy of America and its allies and the West can no longer rely on the strategic advantage it has enjoyed until now, a leading think tank states in its annual report.
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02.13.18The ‘Globalisation’ of China's Military Power
BBC
China’s modernization of its armed forces is proceeding faster than many analysts expected.
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02.07.18China Is Placing Underwater Sensors in the Pacific near Guam
NPR
China’s official People’s Daily newspaper reported in December that Chinese scientists had lowered acoustic sensors into the Mariana Trench, at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
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08.02.17China’s Stunning Debut on the International Scene
This month, Chinese naval vessels departed the port of Zhanjiang for the East African country of Djibouti, the site of China’s first overseas military base, which is set to begin operations later this year. An editorial in the state-run Global Times...
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08.01.17China's Show of Military Muscle Gives Neighbors Plenty to Think about, Analysts Say
South China Morning Post
China’s military parade on Sunday and the comments made by President Xi Jinping at the event will undoubtedly have caught the attention of its neighbors, especially those with which it has territorial disputes, analysts said.
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07.26.17China Agency Targets High-Tech Weapons Development
Financial Times
China has launched a military agency to develop state of the art weapons, the latest step in the country’s ambitions to transform its army into a modern fighting force. The Scientific Research Steering Committee was set up earlier this year but its...
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07.24.17Chinese Jets Intercept US Surveillance Plane: US Officials
Reuters
Two Chinese fighter jets intercepted a U.S. Navy surveillance plane over the East China Sea at the weekend, with one jet coming within about 300 feet (91 meters) of the American aircraft, U.S. officials said on Monday.
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06.13.17China Developing Hypersonic Missiles For Jet Fighters
Sky News
If the ramjet engine is successfully miniaturised it will allow air-to-air missiles to strike targets at more than 4,000mph.
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06.12.17China Developing World's Fastest Amphibious Fighting Vehicle
The North China Institute of Vehicle Research has built the armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) that can attain a top speed of 50 kilometres per hour on calm waters.
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04.13.17Kim Jong Un’s Rockets Are Getting an Important Boost—from China
Washington Post
Despite China’s public efforts to rein in North Korea’s provocative behavior, Chinese companies continue to act as enablers, supplying the isolated communist regime with technology and hardware that allow its missiles to take flight
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03.28.17China’s Secret Plan to Crush SpaceX and the US Space Program
CNBC
China’s breakneck economic expansion may be flagging, but the country's ambitions in space show no signs of slowing down.
Conversation
03.09.17Is THAAD the Start of a U.S.-China Arms Race?
In late February, U.S. President Donald Trump called for adding $54 billion to the U.S. military budget—an increase of roughly 10 percent. And in early March, despite outcry from Beijing, the United States began deploying the Terminal High-Altitude...
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02.16.17New Chinese Missile Upgrade Likely Designed with Taiwan in Its Crosshairs
Forbes
Earlier this month, the state-run English-language newspaper China Daily reported on the most recent public displays of the People’s Republic of China’s DF-16, designed, in large part, as a potential offensive weapon against the island nation of...
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12.19.16China Says Trump’s Description of Drone Seizure as Theft is ‘Inaccurate’
Wall Street Journal
U.S., China militaries in smooth communication over drone, Chinese Foreign Ministry says
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12.15.16China Puts New Weapons on South China Sea Islands, Report Says
Washington Post
China appears to be adding new anti-aircraft weapons to a string of artificial islands in the middle of the disputed South China Sea
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12.09.16China Takes Aim at South Korea’s Lotte After Missile Move
Financial Times
Series of probes follows Lotte’s surrender of golf course to host US-made Thaad missile shield
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11.30.16S.Korea Says China is Retaliating Against Its Missile-Defense System by Taking Aim at Korean Dramas
Quartz
China has turned down Korean stars’ applications to perform in the country and has not let any Korean movies screen in the mainland
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11.01.16China Shows Off Latest Military Innovations at Air Show
Time
This year’s aerial extravaganza has much to flaunt, from a fifth-generation stealth fighter to China’s largest combat drone
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09.07.16China Confirms Development of New Long-Range Bomber
Diplomat
The new long-range bomber should be capable of reaching targets as far as the “second island chain.”
Conversation
08.25.16Could China Now Defeat the United States in a Battle Over the South China Sea or Taiwan?
Chinese Communist Party Secretary Xi Jinping kicked off the latest round of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reforms at a September 3, 2015 military parade. The reforms could result in a leaner, more combat-effective PLA. This could create new...
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06.22.16China’s Aerospace Defense Industry Sacks U.S. Military Technology
Forbes
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China launches global campaigns and advances....
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06.21.16China’s New Y-20 Is The Largest Military Aircraft In Production
Popular Mechanics
With the codename “Kunpeng,” and the nickname “Chubby Girl,” this aircraft is set to fly with supplies, tanks, and troops....
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09.16.15China Trying to Undercut Germany on Submarine Offer to Egypt
Reuters
Beijing looks to expand weapons exports beyond its traditional customer base in Asia.
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09.15.15Satellite Images Suggest China 'Building Third Airstrip' in South China Sea
CNN
China appears to building a third airstrip in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
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03.26.15US Admiral: China Counter-Space Threat Is ‘Real’
Diplomat
China’s ability to wage war in space is a major concern for the United States.,
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11.11.14China to Debut Fighter Jet as U.S. Brass Attends Airshow
Bloomberg
Manufactured by the Shenyang subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corp of China, also known as AVIC, the J-31 is a test of the country’s ability to deliver cutting-edge defense technology.
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01.29.14China Challenging U.S. Military Technological Edge: Pentagon Official
Reuters
Chinese and Russian military developments are threatening to the U.S.’ technological edge.
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01.29.14Virgin Galactic Bans Chinese Tourists from Space Flights Fearing Espionage
Asian News International
Tycoons willing to pay 250,000 dollars for the tickets have been advised to get another nationality's passport to board the flights.
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05.28.13Confidential Report Lists U.S. Weapons System Designs Compromised By Chinese Cyberspies
Washington Post
Experts warn that the electronic intrusions gave China access to advanced technology that could accelerate the development of its weapons systems and weaken the U.S. military advantage in a future conflict.
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12.27.12China's Giant New Warplane Will Look Awfully Familiar to the U.S. Air Force
Wired
China's military has released photos of a prototype heavy transport warplane resembling the U.S. Air Force’s workhorse C-17.
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09.24.12Flag Raising Ceremony Held on China’s First Aircraft Carrier
Danwei
Various front pages in China today feature glowing reports of China’s first aircraft carrier on whose platform a flag raising ceremony was held yesterday. Yet the fact that it happened is just about everything we know for sure about the ship. The...
Reports
09.01.08China, Space Weapons, and U.S. Security
He Jianan
Council on Foreign Relations
China’s successful test of an anti-satellite weapon in 2007, followed by the US destruction earlier this year of an out-of-control American satellite, demonstrated that space may soon no longer remain a sanctuary from military conflict. As the...
Reports
05.01.03Chinese Military Power
He Jianan
Council on Foreign Relations
The rise of China has long been a growing concern among US foreign policymakers. Of particular concern is the strength of Chinese military power and its relation to US military capability. This important report assesses the situation and concludes...