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China Establishes Three New Military Academies to Cultivate Specialized Talent

The Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Jiang Bin announced on May 15 that the Central Military Commission has decided to reorganize existing military academies to establish three new military educational institutions. This restructuring aims to develop military talent in specialized fields such as information warfare.

The three newly established academies are: Information Support Forces Engineering University (信息支援部队工程大学), Army Service Arms University (陆军兵种大学), Joint Logistics Support Forces Engineering University (联勤保障部队工程大学).

According to Jiang, this adjustment implements the directives from the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee and adapts to changes in military branch structure and talent development needs.

The Information Support Forces Engineering University will be formed by merging the Information and Communications College of the National University of Defense Technology (国防科技大学信息通信学院) with the Communications NCO School of the Army Engineering University of PLA (陆军工程大学通信士官学校). Its main campus will be located in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

The Army Service Arms University will be established by combining the Army Academy of Armored Forces (陆军装甲兵学院) and the PLA Army Academy of Artillery and Air Defense (陆军炮兵防空兵学院), with its headquarters in Hefei, Anhui Province.

The Joint Logistics Support Forces Engineering University will integrate the Army Logistics Academy (陆军勤务学院), the Army Military Transportation University (陆军军事交通学院), and its subordinate Automotive NCO School (汽车士官学校). This institution will be based in Chongqing.

Jiang mentioned that details regarding academic programs and enrollment quotas for these new military academies will be released in conjunction with annual recruitment plans.

All three institutions will be open to regular high school graduates.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 15, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202505150238.aspx

Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson: China’s Measures to Dispel Philippines’ Vessels Were Completely Legitimate and Professional

Philippine media recently reported that Chinese Navy ships executed dangerous maneuvers against Philippines vessels in the waters of Scarborough Shoal (“Huangyan Dao” in Chinese). On May 15, Chinese state media outlet Xinhua News Agency published a statement on the topic by Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Defense. Xinhua published the statement in both Chinese and English. Below is the original English version published by Xinhua:

Question: It is reported that recently the Philippines has frequently sent frigates in an attempt to intrude into the territorial sea of China’s Huangyan Dao, and claimed that the Chinese military vessels took high-risk maneuvers. What’s your comment?

Jiang Bin: Huangyan Dao is China’s inherent territory. In recent days, the Philippine military vessels attempted to intrude into the territorial sea of China’s Huangyan Dao. The Chinese side took necessary measures to stop and dispel them, which was completely legitimate, legal, professional and restrained. The Philippine side’s actions were highly irresponsible, and severely threatened China’s sovereignty and security by approaching Chinese vessels in a dangerous manner. We urge the Philippine side to stop any risky infringements and provocations, and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Otherwise, it will only taste the bitter fruit of its own doing.

Source: Xinhua, May 15, 2025
https://app.xinhuanet.com/news/article.html?articleId=7fc650584df2936f04cbf96e8e38e717

Sputnik News: US and China Account for Nearly Half of Global Military Spending in 2024

Russian news agency Sputnik recently reported that the United States and China together accounted for nearly half of global military spending in 2024. Sputnik cited data from German data analytics company Statista published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

The U.S. had military expenditures of $997 billion, approximately 37 percent of global defense spending. China’s military spend was estimated at around $314 billion, accounting for 12 percent of the global total. Russia ranked third in military expenditure, at about 5.5 percent of the global total.

On March 5, during the sessions of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China announced a 7.2 percent increase in its defense budget for 2025, bringing the sum to 1.78 trillion yuan (US$ 249 billion) {Editor’s Note: the actual total will be higher since China also has hidden military spending}. This marks the 10th consecutive year of growth in China’s military spending. The previous two years also saw 7.2 percent increses.

Source: Sputnik, April 30, 2025
https://sputniknews.cn/20250430/1065269701.html

Chinese Ministry of Education Issues Notice on Military Recruitment at Universities

The Chinese Ministry of Education recently published a document titled “Notice on Promoting Military Recruitment Among University Students for 2025.” The notice said that “university students are considered a crucial talent pool for building a world-class military.” It encourages graduating students to enlist and requires local governments and universities to “enhance their political awareness and ensure effective implementation of such recruitment.”

Specific recruitment strategies listed in the document include:

  1. Strengthening Specialized Information Sessions
    Universities and local conscription offices should collaborate to conduct extensive “Military Recruitment Promotion on Campus” activities. These include policy briefings, military open days, and experience camps to ensure comprehensive outreach. They should utilize veteran university students, form “Military Recruitment Lecture Teams,” and conduct personalized, face-to-face promotional campaigns.
  2. Building an All-Media Communication Network
    Authorities should leverage official platforms such as the National Recruitment Network and use university websites, WeChat public accounts, and short video platforms to create engaging promotional content, including microfilms, animations, and live interviews. The creation of online cultural works reflecting military life is encouraged to enhance the impact of recruitment messaging.
  3. Creating Immersive Promotional Environments
    Universities should set up dedicated recruitment promotion areas in key locations such as main campus roads, cafeterias, and dormitory areas. This includes broadcasting recruitment videos, displaying banners, posting posters, and distributing brochures to foster a strong recruitment atmosphere. Additionally, recruitment content should be integrated into freshman military training, campus job fairs, and graduation ceremonies for targeted mobilization.

{Editor’s Note: Some have said that the Chinese Communist Party is now promoting military enlistment to college graduates because graduates are having a hard time finding jobs in the current Chinese economy.}

Source: Ministry of Education website
http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A15/s3263/202504/t20250409_1186607.html

PLA: Southern Theater Air Force Base Builds Integrated Training Platform to Boost Combat Readiness

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) website has published an article on a new “integrated training platform” at the PLA’s southern theater air force base. Below are excerpts from the article:

A military base under the Southern Theater Air Force has established an integrated training platform. By using scenario-based design, modular groupings, military system-based confrontation, mission-oriented command, and autonomous coordination, the base aims to improve the effectiveness of combined operations and enhance the quality and efficiency of training. This initiative further promotes regularization, diversification, and combat realism in integrated training.

The way the training works is that one military branch leads the efforts with multiple branches coordinating. In this base, the air force branch leads the training.

Before each training session, the base headquarters sets the operational scenario and mission objectives. Air force units in the region take the lead in integrating training content, forces, areas, schedules, and organizational needs across various military branches. They carefully design typical missions and confrontation styles, clearly define training topics, participating forces, designated areas, logistical support, and implementation methods. Participating units collaboratively develop training plans, coordinating both regional and external multi-branch military forces.

Training activities include various methods of joint war planning, contingency mission planning, and rolling and updating plans. Relying on a “cloud + terminal” command system, the base enables real-time situational awareness, dynamic plan adjustments, and precise outcome evaluations. This helps units explore solutions to challenges in system-based training, continuously improve training models, and enhance combat capabilities.

Source: PLA Website, March 27, 2025
http://www.81.cn/jwtt/16377075.html

Xinhua: China and Thailand Conduct Joint Naval Training to Celebrate 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Xinhua News Agency, the official state news agency of the People’s Republic of China, reported that China and Thailand have conducted their sixth round of joint naval training exercises, stating that the exercises marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. From March 27 to 30, the marine corps and warships of both countries conducted multiple training exercises on land, islands, ports, and in maritime and aerial zones.

Training included pistol and rifle disassembly and assembly exercises, as well as helicopter rappelling drills.

Urban counter-terrorism was reportedly a key focus of this joint training. Chinese and Thai troops carried out mixed-unit training centered on two core aspects: the use of weapons in urban areas and the execution of building assault tactics.

Source: Xinhua, March 31, 2025
http://www.xinhuanet.com/asia/20250401/38db59aba96a4b589d01cf14dc330b8d/c.html

Beijing Increases Military Diplomacy Efforts in Southeast Asia

Given the current U.S.-China trade war, Beijing has been working to shore up trade relations and “increase cooperation” with Southeast Asian countries. On a tour from April 14 to 18, Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. China’s military has also launched a new round of military diplomacy with Southeast Asian nations:

  1. From April 16 to 17, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang jointly presided over the 9th China-Vietnam Border Defense Friendship Exchange and held talks.
  2. On April 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun will jointly host the China-Indonesia “2+2” Dialogue Mechanism (Foreign and Defense Ministers) in Beijing, with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Sources:
1. People’s Daily, April 18, 2025
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0418/c1011-40463018.html
2. Net Ease, April 18, 2025
https://www.163.com/dy/article/JTERG5KS0553BW85.html

Xinhua Commentary: PLA’s Joint Military Drills Around Taiwan Are Warning Against “Taiwan Independence” Forces

Starting April 1, the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began organizing joint land, sea, air, and rocket force drills around Taiwan Island. On April 2, the command conducted the “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercise in central and southern waters of the Taiwan Strait. China’s state news agency Xinhua wrote, “These actions serve as a serious warning and a strong deterrent against the Lai Ching-te administration and ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”

“Every time the Taiwan independence forces take a provocative step, every time our countermeasures and punishment will go one step further.”

During this round of joint exercises, the PLA deployed warships and aircraft from multiple directions in close proximity to Taiwan. Key focus areas included:

  • Combat readiness patrols at sea and in the air
  • Seizing comprehensive control of strategic domains
  • Precision strikes against sea and land targets
  • Blockade and control of critical regions and passages

The “Strait Thunder-2025A” drill specifically focused on:

  • Identification and verification of targets
  • Issuing warnings and driving off intrusions
  • Intercepting and detaining hostile elements

“The exercise tested the PLA’s capabilities in regional control, joint blockade operations, and precision strikes. It also included live-fire long-range missile drills in parts of the East China Sea, targeting simulated objectives such as key ports and energy facilities.”

Source: Xinhua, April 3, 2025
https://app.xinhuanet.com/news/article.html?articleId=9473faf74ca1446432b287502eb1e6b8