Ministry of National Defense Routine Press Briefing, Early June 2026
On the afternoon of June 9, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information on recent military-related issues.
Zhang Xiaogang: First, I have an announcement to make.
On June 8, the 13th Strategic Dialogue between the Chinese and New Zealand militaries was held in China. The two sides exchanged views candidly and in depth on international and regional issues of mutual concern, expressed positive willingness to strengthen practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, and enhanced mutual understanding and trust.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of June 9, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Sun Yue.]
Reporter: According to reports, Defense Minister Dong Jun recently visited South Africa at the invitation of the South African side. How does the spokesperson assess the military relationship between China and South Africa?
Zhang Xiaogang: Minister Dong Jun's visit to South Africa at the invitation of the South African side marks the first visit by a Chinese defense minister in 12 years. He held talks with the South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, and the two sides reached consensus on continuously deepening all-round practical cooperation. "Comrades and brothers" (同志加兄弟) is the defining character of China-South Africa relations. Under the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state, the two militaries will strengthen strategic communication, improve institutional mechanisms, carry out professional exchanges, deepen education and training, and build a model of military cooperation among Global South countries.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of June 9, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Sun Yue.]
Reporter: The 2026 National College Entrance Examination is currently underway. Please introduce the plans for military academies to recruit ordinary senior high school graduates.
Zhang Xiaogang: In 2026, 22 military academies across the armed forces plan to recruit approximately 17,500 ordinary senior high school graduates. Military academy enrollment fully implements the requirements of deepening political rectification and training (政治整训), precisely aligns with the personnel needs of units for combat, construction, readiness, and governance (战建备治), and scientifically formulates enrollment plans in accordance with new military academy education and training task planning. There are three main features:
First, the integrated cultivation of officer candidates (生长军官) is being deployed. During the undergraduate education phase, students will consolidate their scientific, cultural, military, and political qualities as well as their professional foundations, with emphasis on developing command qualities (指挥素养) and strengthening long-term development potential, laying a solid foundation for pre-assignment training in units.
Second, targeted cultivation of political officers is being strengthened. Relying on the National University of Defense Technology, two programs—Marxist Theory and Ideological and Political Education—are being established to recruit young students, consolidating and strengthening our military's political officer corps from the source.
Third, an integrated "5+3" cultivation program for clinical medicine is being launched. Beginning this year, at the Army, Navy, and Air Force medical universities, an integrated cultivation system is being established that connects five years of undergraduate medical education with three years of master's professional degree graduate education and standardized residency training, cultivating and forging a high-quality, professional health support and medical force. In addition, relying on the distinctive and advantageous disciplines of the academies, talent cultivation in emerging technology fields will continue.
Youth tempers the sword; building a strong military is my responsibility (青春砺剑，强军有我). We look forward to more aspiring young people applying to military academies, singing the song of youth in the vibrant military camp, and injecting inexhaustible momentum into the accelerated building of a world-class military. Prospective students and parents are advised to follow the official enrollment announcements of military academies, and to be vigilant against online enrollment fraud and false information.
Reporter: According to reports, the China-Mongolia "Steppe Partner-2026" joint army training has successfully concluded. Please provide further details.
Zhang Xiaogang: From May 30 to June 6, the China-Mongolia "Steppe Partner-2026" joint army training was successfully held at a joint training base in Inner Mongolia. Using joint operations to strike illegal armed organizations as the subject, the two sides conducted realistic combat training (实战化训练) in areas including joint command and coordinated strikes. Armored assault and intelligent operations on the steppe—the systematic employment of unmanned and intelligentized equipment was one of the highlights. Among the activities, manned-unmanned collaborative offensive combat training was organized using live-force confrontation and laser engagement methods, covering unmanned reconnaissance and strike, manned-unmanned collaborative assault, overcoming and breaching obstacles, and trench clearing. This was the second time the two countries' armies have held this series of joint training. Through the exchange of tactics and training methods (战法训法), the two militaries further deepened exchanges and cooperation and enhanced their capabilities to jointly respond to security risks and execute missions together.
Reporter: According to reports, the Japanese side has on multiple recent occasions shadowed and monitored the Liaoning carrier strike group during training in the Western Pacific, with Japan's Ministry of Defense continuously releasing information on the number of vessels in the formation, the sea area, and the number of carrier aircraft sorties. Japan's Defense Minister stated that Japan will closely monitor the movements of China's carrier strike group and continue conducting vigilance and surveillance. What is your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: The Liaoning carrier strike group is currently conducting training as planned in relevant waters of the Western Pacific. This operation is not directed at any specific country or target; it aims to enhance the combat capability of the carrier strike group through open-ocean training. During this period, the Japanese side conducted tracking and surveillance on multiple occasions, and Chinese naval vessel formations responded in accordance with laws and regulations. The Japanese side's sensationalist hype (煽宣炒作) over China's legitimate activities, in a vain attempt to manufacture tension and mislead public opinion, is plain for all to see, and will never succeed.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of June 9, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Sun Yue.]
Reporter: According to reports, Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announced the launch of maritime delimitation negotiations in waters east of China's Taiwan Island, whereupon the China Coast Guard immediately conducted law enforcement patrols in the relevant waters, and the Ministry of Transport subsequently launched a special maritime traffic law enforcement operation. What is your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: In response to Japan and the Philippines arbitrarily announcing the launch of maritime delimitation negotiations in waters east of China's Taiwan Island, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has on multiple occasions made clear China's solemn position of resolute opposition. We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately cease their illegal, rights-infringing, and provocative actions. If they persist in going their own way, they will only bring consequences upon themselves (求锤得锤), and China will take resolute and forceful actions to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Reporter: According to reports, the head of Taiwan's defense authority stated that although the U.S. Defense Secretary's keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue did not mention Taiwan, Taiwan will continue to strengthen its "self-defense" capabilities, maintain close military cooperation with the United States, and fulfill Taiwan's "responsibility and capability to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." What is your comment on this?
Zhang Xiaogang: "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Strait are as incompatible as fire and water. Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is the greatest common denominator between China and the United States. Recent U.S. statements on Taiwan-related matters indicate that the U.S. side has come to better understand and attach greater importance to China's position and concerns on the Taiwan question. An ever-growing body of facts confirms that the trend toward China's ultimate and inevitable reunification is unstoppable. Any scheme to "rely on foreign forces to seek independence" (倚外谋独) or "use force to seek independence" (以武谋独) is doomed to fail, and any forces that persist in their delusions and swim against the current will be swept away by the tide of history.