Hong Kong, Jan. 1 -- Chairman Xi Jinping continues to invest heavily in the People's Liberation Army (PLA), as China's military approaches his 2027 "centennial military building goal". To realize the goal, which Xi publicly enunciated in October 2020, China is strengthening its nuclear deterrence and military coercive capacity.

On 23 December 2025, the US Pentagon issued the latest edition of its annual report examining the status of the PLA. The document, "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025", was the 25th edition to appear. It covers developments through the start of 2025, so some developments were not listed, such as landing barges that revolutionize the PLA's ability to land at beaches pre...