China stirred the Pacific pot, Japan powered up and Aussie AUKUS anxiety emerged: 2024 in review
The Chinese military itself wasn't free from drama, as Beijing cycled through defense ministers and senior officials fell under investigation.
From Japan’s build-up to stumbles in the Lucky Country: 5 Pacific stories for 2024
Key reports covered Japan's defense expansion, China's internal troubles and Australia's uneven pursuit of more naval power.
‘Huge implications’ as top Chinese military leader under investigation, joins 3rd defense minister
"Having three Defense Ministers investigated, and two publicly accused of corruption, does not give a sense of stability" within the Chinese military, Meia Nouwens, a China military expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Breaking Defense.
China creates new Information Support Force, scraps Strategic Support Force in ‘major’ shakeup
A PLA spokesman said the Information Support Force "is a brand-new strategic arm of the PLA and a key underpinning of coordinated development and application of the network information system," which would seem to indicate a sharp focus on networks.
China calls for new ‘strategic guidance’ at 20th Party Congress
China analyst Dean Cheng breaks down the key military aspects of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's statements at the recent Party Congress.
China’s Military Commission leadership at stake at Xi’s Peoples Congress
With this Party Congress under way in Beijing, Xi Jinping will put in place China's political and military leadership for the next five years, writes Dean Cheng.
The 5 Faces Of Chinese Espionage: The World’s First ‘Digital Authoritarian State’
Chinese spies are different from those of most other wealthy and developed countries where the majority of spies are highly trained, with some serving under diplomatic cover and others operating under what the US Intelligence Community calls Non Official Cover (NOC). Chinese intelligence operations are the first in modern times to use, as a foundation, […]