Global Conflict Reporting

Tag: China

  • PLAN deployments; Satellite imagery shows an up close look at China’s navy.

    By.Scott Jackson

    12/08/2025

    The following incredibly clear images show several PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessels operating in the Philippine sea. The images show just a small snapshot of the currently reported 90 vessels operating around parts of the Pacific. 

    From the left : Type 055/Renhai-class cruiser Yan’an sailing alongside the Type 903A/Fuchi-class replenishment ship, the Luomahu, both tailed by the unidentified Type 054A/JIangkai II-class frigate. Image from Vantor.

    The images are from US satellite company Vantor and show a the Type 055/Renhai-class cruiser Yan’an, an unidentified Type 054A/JIangkai II-class frigate, a Type 903A/Fuchi-class replenishment ship, the Luomahu, and the Type 075/Yushen class LHD, the Hainan.

    Type 075/Yushen class LHD, the Hainan.

    The ships shown are currently operating in the Philippine Sea, according to officials with the Australian Defense Force. 

    According to Adm. David Johnson, chief of Australia’s defense force “We are aware the task group is composed of four ships, a Yushen landing helicopter dock assault, a Renhai-class cruiser, a Jiangkai-class frigate and Fuchi-class replenishment vessel, an Australian P-8 observed the task group on the evening of the second of December in the Philippine Sea, approximately 500 nautical miles north of Palau,”

    Speaking in a Senate hearing meeting Adm. Johnson said “We will continue to monitor this task group as we learn more about its direction, its purpose and intent,”

    Image of Task Group 107 which circumnavigated Australia in early 2025.


    In February and March of this year a PLAN task force made waves when it sailed around Australia.Task Group 107 made up of the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang, the Renhai-class Cruiser Zunyi, and the Fuchi-class replenishment vessel Weishanhu were tracked throughout their journey by Australian maritime surveillance – Australian P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

    Image of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon.

    The Task force circumnavigated Australia and at one point carried out live fire drills only several miles outside of the eastern coast of Australia.

    The ships seen in the Vantor image are a good look at the PLAN capabilities.One of its biggest threats is its large destroyer, the Type 55.

    The Type 55/ Renhai-class guided- missile stealth cruiser is China’s largest of its missile carrying ships. Technically china classifies this ship as a destroyer but the size makes it more closer to what the rest of the world would consider a cruiser. It has a substantial armament with 112 vertical launchers putting it just under the 122 Ticonderoga and just over the 90-96 cells of the Arleigh Burke. The Renhai-class can launch a mixture of armaments of missiles from these cells. Anti-air, anti-sub, anti-ship and land attack missiles can all be launched from this system. Maritime combat analyst predict that in a conflict the Renhai-class will be used in the second island chain as one of its heavy hitters while smaller class ships defend closer to home. China currently possesses 8 of these. These ships have allowed China to extend its maritime operations further, including to the Middle East.

    The frigate, a Type 54 JIangkai II-class Is very similar to the Type 55 in that they were both heavily inspired by the French La Fayette-Class stealth frigate.

    French La Fayette-Class

    The Type 54 frigate is one of its most numerous ships in the PLAN with around 40 in service. Each carries a 36 cell HHQ-16 vertical launch system designed for medium range air defense.

    This image was made by Twitter user Ian Ellis. Ellis produces high quality, informative infographics and reports on a wide range of defense topics. This one shows a number of the currently deployed ships in the People’s Liberation Army Navy. The group shown in orange is the ships we have in the satellite images. The locations of the ships were discovered by Ellis and other investigators who track Chinese fleet movements. Several methods can be used for this task, such as Sentinels satellite hub, and maritime tracking services. 

    I wanted to shout out Ellis for his always quality work. Follow him at @Ianellisjones on Twitter.

  • China and the U.S. clash over US patrol in South China Sea. (Video Included).

    By. Scott Jackson

    08/15/2025

    Yesterday, the  Chinese PLAN (People’s liberation, Army Navy) claimed that they expelled a U.S. Navy Destroyer that entered its territorial waters near the Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. 

    Here’s the facts we know. The U.S. Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) previously located at Cebu City in the Philippines  sailed near the disputed territory around the Scarborough Shoal during a freedom of navigation patrol. This was two days after a Chinese coast guard cutter collided with a Chinese guided missile destroyer while chasing a ship from the Filipino coast guard. USS Higgins came within 12 miles of Huangyan Island (another name for Scarborough Shoal) , a highly disputed territory claimed by China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It should be noted that the Philippines coast guard said that an Independence-class Littoral combat ship , the USS Cincinnati was also nearby.

    The Chinese say that they forced the patrol to leave the area. The U.S. disputes this saying nothing thr Chinese said or did affected them in any way.

    “China’s statement about this mission is false,” a spokesperson for U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. “USS Higgins (DDG-76) conducted this FONOP in accordance with international law and then continued on to conduct normal operations. The operation reflects our commitment to uphold the freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle. The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.”

    The spokesperson for U.S. 7th Fleet said that the Freedom of Navigation Operation challenged the prior requirement of a notification and authorization that China and Taiwan seek before a warship makes an innocent passage in their territorial sea. 

    A FONOP or Freedom of Navigation Operation is a naval operation carried out by the U.S. to assert the right of free transfer through an area. usually, heavily disputed area.
    “The unilateral imposition of any authorization or advance-notification requirement for innocent passage is unlawful,” the spokesperson for the Japan-based fleet said in the statement.

     

    This video which I believe is filmed by a PLA helicopter or drone shows a Chinese Type-055 guided missile destroyer shadowing the USS Higgins (DDG-76) a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-Class destroyer. We also see the USS Cleveland (LCS-31) a Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship that was also in the region.

    A Chinese SU-27 is also briefly shown in the footage.

  • North Korea’s new warship capsizes on launch.

    North Korean Destroyer under construction.

    By. Scott Jackson

    05/22/2025

    Yesterday, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jung Un along with a group of military and state leaders were present for the launch of the countries newest warship from the shipyard in the northeastern port of Chongjin.

    The ship is the 2nd of the yet officially unnamed class of guided missile ships launched in the past two months. The first in the series was called the Choe Hyon.

    Choe Hyon diagram.

    That launch was an absolute disaster as the guided missile destroyers stern slipped off the transport cradle that was to carry it into the water. The stern of the ship was thus stuck while the rest of it kept moving causing an as of yet unknown amount of damage to the destroyer as it capsized.

    In a shocking turn, the North Korean state run news were quick to confirm what happened and KCNA put out this statement

    “Due to inexperienced command and operational carelessness, the parallel movement of the bogies could not be guaranteed, resulting in the launching sled in the stern detaching first and causing the ship to capsize. The ship’s balance was destroyed due to a rupture in the hull in some sections, and the bow section was unable to detach from the keel.”

    This is a sharp contrast to the North Koreans love of secrecy with all things involving their military. Washington analyst have speculated this indicates a shift in North Korean thinking as they move forward with their attempt to build a blue-water capable fleet to extend their maritime presence into the pacific and beyond. Adding in the idea that the country likely wanted to get ahead of the news cycle before the satellites had a chance to do a fly over.

    Kim himself was more than displeased as he threw fury and accusations out in the aftermath. According to NK state run media Kim accused the military and the shipbuilders of incompetence. He called the incident as followed

    “…serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.”

    -North Korean leader Kim Jung Un

    Further, KCNA reported

    “Kim Jong Un made [a] stern assessment, saying that it was a serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility … and could not be tolerated,”

    He has called for a meeting of the ruling Workers party in June where the “irresponsible errors” can be delt with.

    Satellite image showing the aftermath of the destroyer launch accident. NK has covered the ship in tarps to hide as much from view as possible.

    Satellite footage was released showing the current condition of the ship. Tarps were used to hide specific information. This type of side launch is a more difficult way to launch a ship requiring grater skill than simply sliding it in bow first.

    “The urgent restoration of the destroyer is not a simple practical issue, but a political issue directly related to rhetoric authority kd the country”

    Kim Jung Un.

    Kim has called for the ship to be repaired and operational within a month which is unlikely. The damage caused is likely to be severe.

    While North Korea has a small Navy building a missile destroyer is not something North Korean shipyards have done more than once, launching the Choe Hyon last month in April. However many have wondered just how North Korea managed to build a ship like the Choe Hyon so quickly. One reason is the new military cooperation between Russian and North Korea, Russia is able to offer help and advice on shipbuilding to North Korea and North Korea has given soldiers, missiles and other support. Another reason the ship was built so quick is because the ship has zero propulsion as of when it was photographed during some live fire weapons testing. A sign of corners being cut during its production in an effort to rush a destroyer program, a program that Kim Jung Un knows will give his country more renown.

    A shot of North Korean guided missile destroyer Choe Hyon during its live fire weapons testing. We can see a large open spot where the
    propulsion machinery for the ship would usually be.

    Without propulsion the Choe Hyon was almost certainly towed out of the harbor for its weapons testing.

    Choe Hyon and its unlucky sister ship carry an impressive arsenal of weapons that were seen during the before mentioned weapons demonstration. A large amount of Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. One of the main missiles loaded will likely be a before, unknown air defense missile that we have little info on. Other missile include a supersonic cruise missile and extra large launch cells for ballistic missiles. In total these destroyers have 76 VLS cells broken up into 4-5 different sizes for different munitions.

    While the different size launch cells have some advantages, having your missile stock made up of that diverse of a stock also has its drawbacks, especially if you want these ships to focus on air defense as has been reported.

    The launch of an apparent surface-to-air missile from the foward set of 32 VLS cells.
    Launch of a Hwasal-2 (or a similar)Long Range Cruise Missile.
    Another shot of Hwasal-2 taken from the flight deck.
    Close up of the missile.

    The ships are also equipped with the 127mm caliber main gun on the bow as well as 2 AK-630 CIWAS (Close in weapons system).

    The ability of these destroyers to be utilized as long range missile platforms is the most interesting and strongest assets for this set of ships. Analysts have questioned whether this ability, even on what probably only amounts to a token capability for North Korea is enough to put it high on the list of targets should hostilities break out with the U.S. or other western powers. 

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    US accuses Chinese satellite company of aiding Houthi rebel attacks in U.S. warships.
    
			
    

    By Scott Jackson
    




    




    April 21st, 2025
    




    The U.S. has accused a Chinese Satellite company of aiding the Iranian backed Houthi rebels with its targeting of ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. State department has said that data and imagery from the satellite firm is directly being used to target and attack US and international shipping.
    




    Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited.
    




    Tammy Bruce said that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited, is the company helping the Houthis.
    




    

    “We can confirm the reporting that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited is directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests,”
    




    Tammy Bruce State Department Spokeperson told Fox News. She later continued, 
    




    “China consistently attempts … to frame itself as a global peacemaker … however, it is clear that Beijing and China-based companies provide key economic and technical support to regimes like Russia, North Korea and Iran and its proxies,”
    

    




    GCR reached out for a statement from the company named here however after a day I’ve heard nothing back yet. Will update if they respond to me directly. 
    




    Middle East image from satellite. 
    




    In a statement to other media outlets this was the statement from the company. 
    




    

    “In our global operations, we strictly comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards both in China and internationally. With a mature business model and high-quality services, we are committed to contributing Chinese expertise and solutions to the advancement of the global remote sensing industry,”
    

    




    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian claims that China has played a positive role in easing tensions in the region. 
    




    The Houthis have carried out a number of attacks on international shipping through the area, using missiles, drones and attempted hijacking. These attacks have been ongoing since the October 7th 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, the war in Gaza afterwords has been a brutal one, claiming the lives of many and destroying whole swaths of Gaza. The Houthis along with other Iranian backed proxy groups have shown support for Palestinian Hamas (the Iranian backed Palestinian liberation group fighting Israel) in various ways. The Houthis in Yemen have disrupted international shipping and regularly launched ballistic missiles at Israel. Hezbollah has also joined with regular rocket attacks. These attacks drove Israel to invade L Lebanon in October 1st 2024 . Iran itself has also launched several large scale attacks on Israel.
    




    




    Thank you for reading. I hope you get as much out of what I’m doing here as I get out of making these reports. If so I would invite you to join my Patreon. Doing that would help me more than I can describe. I’ve kept it as cheap as possible to become a member. It’s only a $1.00. However a dollar from even half of my Facebook followers would be a life changing amount of money for me and for this page.

    Thank you for all the support over the years and as we continue to grow and evolve.  

    -Scott 

    




    

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    North Korea officially shows off its new Airborne Early Warning/Command and control aircraft.
    
			
    

    Yet unnamed North Korean AEW&C’s
    




    By. Scott Jackson
    




    March 28th, 2025
    




    




    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un revealed the country’s new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) jet at an event at Pyongyang International Airport.
    




    The plane is designed around the body of a Ilyushin Il-76 Candid, the same plane used for the Russian’s Beriev A-50 “Mainstay” and the Chinese Shaanxi KJ-2000 “Mainring”. The name of the new North Korean airplane has not been released as of yet.
    




    Russian “Mainstay “ flanked by two Russian MiG-31’s.
    




    Chinese “Mainring”
    




    One thing noticed about the North Korean version of this aircraft is that it lacks the normal amount of antenna one would usually expect in these types of planes. This could signal a lack of features found in Russian and Chinese version. Another difference, at least to the Russian Mainstay is that the radome on top does not spin. This is similar to the Chinese version. Fixed radomes like this house 3 fixed phased array radars that each cover 120 degrees of the sky for a fill 369 degrees.
    




    North Korean leader Kim Jung Un climbs aboard new NK AWAC’s. 
    




    Diagram showing the degrees of coverage from the plane.
    




    Images of the interior of the plane were also released showing at least seven individual workstations and several flatscreens for displaying mission data. AEW&C aircraft typically have large crews for operating the radar as well covering traffic control duties for friendly aircraft and mission control for different units. The exsist acne of this plane has been known for over a year as satilite pictures were released showing the plane under construction. The Warzone has an older write up on the possible capabilities of North Korean AEW&C’s that I would like to include. 
    




    Kim Jung Un tours the interior of the NK Airborne Early Warning & Command  airplane. 
    




    

    “While it’s questionable to what degree more complex battle management and command and control functions could be mastered by North Korea, and hosted aboard an AEW&C aircraft, the ability to extend airborne radar coverage over considerable distances would be a great advantage, either providing prior warning of a potential attack from South Korea and/or tracking incoming aircraft and missiles during at least the opening moments of a conflict. The data it collects could also be shared with surface-to-air missile operators to help provide extra warning to enhance their operations. More importantly, it would provide a new tool for daily surveillance of North Korean and South Korean airspace and an avenue to learn to better perfect AEW&C capabilities.”
    




    They went in to include.
    




    “Ultimately, an airborne radar, as found in an AEW&C aircraft, provides a ‘look down’ capability that can spot aircraft, cruise missiles, or drones among the ground clutter and is far less restricted by high terrain compared to ground-based radars. No such radar was previously available to North Korea.”
    




    “On the other hand, there are no signs that North Korea is converting more than a single Il-76 for the AEW&C mission, which means this kind of coverage would be necessarily limited.”
    

    




    




    A shot of the plane under construction back in 2024. 
    




    Shot from earlier this year. 
    




    It’s likely but unclear how much support North Korea received from China or Russia in the construction of the craft. One thought is that Russia provided help with the project in exchange for North Koreas recent aid in Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. North Korea earlier sent around 10,000 soldiers to help in Russia Kursk region and just recently it was announced that 2,000 more were being dispatched to the region. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Video shows Chinese invasion ship’s in action for the first time.
    
			
    

    By. Scott Jackson 
    




    Match 13, 2024
    




    




    


    A video, taken by Chinese beach goers shows one of Chinas new invasion ships. 
    




    Several weeks ago, satellite imagery was taken of a number of Chinese PLA Navy harbor ships being in various states of being built and near complete. These ships have large bridges that can be deployed from the front as well as a system for raising the ships out of the rough waters making loading and unloading of equipment quick.
    




    This image released by Allsource analysis shows the shipyard where the harbor ships are being built.  4 are shown here with more being expected to be built. 
    




    Image from Navel News shows a diagram of how the ships operate. The “Mulberry harbor” pulls up to the beach and deploys its stabilizers and bridge, other ships holding troops and vehicles pull up to the rear of the ship and unload straight through to the beach.
    




    These ships would allow China’s Navy to attempt to quickly land a sizable ground force at whatever point of an island as they wanted to. In a Taiwan invasion scenario these could be used to overwhelm defenders by spreading out the insertion points all across the island. China would also be able to quickly deploy such a large ground force that the U.S. would have little hope of managing to get them all off of the island without a long,drown-out confrontation that even if they could carry out would leave much of the island in ruin.
    




    There is little to these ships making the build time very quick. 
    




    I reached out to PACOM but I’m still waiting on a statement. I’ll update if I get a response. 
    




    Most amateur analysts seem to believe that these ships would make easy targets and wouldn’t last more than a few minutes under fire. However. These ships are ment to be deployed into any sort of direct combat, and would also have the cover of the missile defense of the Chinese PLA Navy. These ships would be deployed after the bulk of any resistance was taken care of. 
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    Chinese PLA Navy Forces conduct live fire drill in waters between Australia and New Zealand.
    
			
    Chinese PLA Navy Forces conduct live fire drill in waters between Australia and New Zealand.
    
			
    

    By. Scott Jackson
    




    February 24th, 2025
    




    




    Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, first spotted last week according to Australian officials, have carried out a military drill in the Tasman Sea, the area between Australia and New Zealand. The drill, carried out on Friday, consisted of ship maneuvers as well as a live-fire component. Air traffic in the region was warned only moments before the live fire drills started and were forced to divert to other routes.
    




    

    “We haven’t been given a reason as to why they’re here in this configuration with this set of ships, with these different set of capabilities, and we don’t really have a sense of, you know, we haven’t been told where they’re going and why.”
    




    Said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. He continued 
    




    “They are in international waters, they are completely within the balance of international law and the UN Convention on the law on the sea, which is important, it is important that all countries have freedom of navigation, it works for us when we are out and about in the world as well.”
    

    




    The task force of Chinese ships was led by Type 055 destroyer Zunyi. Also was the Type 054A Frigate Hengyang, and Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu. 
    



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    Two Iranian Cargo ships set to leave China filled with propellant used for ballistic missile production.
    
			
    

    By. Scott Jackson
    




    January 24,2025
    




    




    M/V Golbon and M/V Jairan, Two Iranian flagged containerships have reportedly been loaded with over 1000 tonnes of sodium perchlorate at a Chinese port over the past several days. 
    




    M/V Jairan
    




    M/V Golbon
    




    Sodium perchlorate is used to make ammonium perchlorate which can be used as a solid propellant in ballistic missiles and is controlled under the Missile Technology Control Regime, an international Anti- Proliferation group. 
    



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