Conflict & Security
April 18, 2026
355 stories in this edition
Could the PLA use minelaying drones in a first island chain blockade over Taiwan?
SCMP Asia
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Asia
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1m ago
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Liu Zhen
Preview Brief
The People’s Liberation Army could use minelaying drones to blockade Japan and other waters in the strategic first island chain during a conflict over Taiwan, a mainland Chinese military magazine has suggested. The PLA’s strategy would see AJX002 drones used for “offensive minelaying” missions targeting Japan’s islands, including the Ryukyu archipelago, as well as the waters of the Philippines, according to an analys...
Feed Summary
The People’s Liberation Army could use minelaying drones to blockade Japan and other waters in the strategic first island chain during a conflict over Taiwan, a mainland Chinese military magazine has suggested. The PLA’s...
