Ministry of National Defense Routine Press Briefing, Mid-August 2026
On the afternoon of August 14, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi released information on recent military-related issues.
Chen Xi: First, I have an announcement to make.
From mid-August to early September, the air forces of China and Egypt will hold the "Civilization Eagle-2026" joint training exercise in Egypt, focusing on training subjects including air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, as well as force employment drills. This is the second time the two sides have held this joint training series. It will continue to enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship between the two sides, deepen practical cooperation between the two militaries, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of August 14, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Wu Yanzhou.]
Reporter: During the "August 1st" [Army Day] period, the ideological interpretation convergent media (融媒体) film "Winning (《制胜》)" attracted a high degree of attention from public opinion both at home and abroad. Please provide further details.
Chen Xi: To date, "Winning" has achieved a total cross-platform reach of over 7.9 billion impressions. The film authentically recreates the passionate practice of officers and soldiers throughout the armed forces—guided by Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military (习近平强军思想)—in keeping their founding mission firmly in mind and concentrating their efforts on preparing for war and fighting. Domestic and overseas audiences, through live training footage and combat-realistic equipment displays, have seen the achievements in building the People's Liberation Army's joint operations system, and in particular the landmark accomplishments in the area of new-quality combat capabilities (新质战斗力). Some viewers commented after watching: the PLA's winning edge is not only the dazzling brilliance of great-power heavy weaponry, but more so the concentrated outpouring of this military's faith, will, wisdom, and dedication in the new-era practice of military strengthening—reinforcing their conviction in the People's Armed Forces' solid capability to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests. In recent years, from "Chasing the Light (《追光》)" and "Pursuing the Dream (《逐梦》)" to "Tempering Through Fire (《淬火》)" and "Storming the Stronghold (《攻坚》)" and now "Winning (《制胜》)," these ideological interpretation convergent media films have presented in a journeying style the new ethos and new bearing of the People's Armed Forces and their posture of charging forward, conveying the conviction of certain victory and firm resolve of officers and soldiers throughout the armed forces as they stride forward toward the centenary goal of army building.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of August 14, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Wu Yanzhou.]
Reporter: According to reports, the 11th National Student Military Training Camp was successfully held recently in Dalian, Liaoning. Please provide further details.
Chen Xi: From July 30 to August 12, the Ministry of Education and the Central Military Commission National Defense Mobilization Department, together with the Air Force, held the 11th National Student Military Training Camp in Dalian, Liaoning. This year's camp was themed "Tempering Aspirations Above the Clouds, Dreams Take Flight in the Sky (砺志云海，梦启长空)." More than 700 representative high school and university students from across the country participated, conducting military skills training and unmanned equipment operations, taking part in Air Force specialty subject drills, attending the "August 1st" flag-raising ceremony and "Getting Close to Heroes (走近英雄)" activities, and more—cultivating military literacy, honing the fighting spirit, and immersively experiencing and internalizing Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military in the vibrant military camp environment, deepening their feelings of love for the Party, the country, and the armed forces.
Holding the National Student Military Training Camp is an effective method and means of innovating and demonstrating student military training work, and has become a distinguished brand of student military training in the new era. Pave the road with youth, let ideals shine bright. We hope that more young students will carry forward the red bloodline (红色血脉), care about national defense, love national defense, build national defense, and defend national defense—pouring their sweat and realizing their dreams in the cause of building a strong country and a strong military.
Reporter: Tomorrow is August 15th—81 years ago, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. But today, Japanese right-wing forces are continuously distorting history and expanding their military armaments. The total amount of the defense budget request for fiscal year 2027 that Japan's Ministry of Defense is about to submit is approximately 8.9 trillion yen, setting a new all-time high. What is your comment?
Chen Xi: Eighty-one years ago, under the heavy blows of China and the world's anti-fascist forces, Japan announced its unconditional surrender. Japanese militarism at that time had dragged all of Asia into an abyss of blood and fire; atrocities such as the Nanjing Massacre, the Bataan Death March, and the Thailand-Burma Death Railway brought profound catastrophe to the peoples of Asia and the world, and the Japanese people themselves suffered greatly as well. However, Japan after its defeat never truly drew lessons from history. It has long indulged right-wing forces in distorting and denying its crimes of aggression, and has by every means sought to break through the constraints of the "Peace Constitution" and the principle of "exclusively defensive defense (専守防衛)," vainly attempting to challenge the postwar international order and becoming a destructive force against regional peace and stability. More recently, Japan has used so-called "external threats" as a pretext to substantially increase its defense budget, vigorously develop offensive forces, and massively expand its defense industrial base. Japan's "new-type militarism (新型军国主义)" can be said to have revealed its true colors (图穷匕见)—a scourge that must be guarded against.
Historical truth must not be forgotten; justice and peace must not be desecrated. We urge Japan to engage in profound self-reflection, acknowledge its crimes and atone for them, strictly abide by the postwar international order, and stop the dangerous course of "remilitarization." Returning to the wrong path will only result in even more painful defeat and more thorough reckoning.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of August 14, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Wang Xiaozhuang.]
Reporter: According to reports, the Philippines and Australia recently held a defense ministers' meeting and issued a joint statement expressing "serious concern" over actions taken by the China Coast Guard at Ren'ai Reef (仁爱礁) and urging all parties to operate "professionally and safely." What is your comment?
Chen Xi: We firmly oppose the Philippines' and Australia's groundless accusations against China and their smearing attacks. Regarding the Philippines' deliberate provocation and assault on Chinese personnel at Ren'ai Reef, the China Coast Guard has already released information and published on-site evidence. China's necessary response measures were professional and restrained—beyond reproach.
It must be emphasized that Ren'ai Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands and is China's inherent territory; nothing the Philippines says or does can change this fact. What the Philippines should do is tow away as soon as possible the illegally "grounded" Vessel No. 57. China will continue to conduct rights-protection and law-enforcement operations, resolutely thwart all infringements and provocations, and safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We urge the relevant countries to stop hyping up and stoking confrontation, and to stop undermining regional peace and stability.
[Photo caption: On the afternoon of August 14, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Chen Xi released information on recent military-related issues. Photo by Sun Zhiying.]
Reporter: According to reports, during this year's Taiwan "Han Kuang Exercise No. 42," Lai Ching-te rehearsed a "wartime escape" route; the Taiwan military experienced accidents including tank parts falling off and a fighter jet running off the runway; and simulated communications slowdowns and phased internet outages triggered public panic. What is your comment?
Chen Xi: The so-called "Han Kuang Exercise" has always been a posturing, wasteful charade, and this year it has made even clearer to us the cowardly nature of Lai Ching-te—fake defense, real flight. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities are also recklessly manufacturing war panic, accelerating the transformation of cities into battlefields and pushing civilians to the front lines, disrupting social order in Taiwan and harming the safety and well-being of ordinary people. We solemnly warn the Democratic Progressive Party authorities: the dead end of "Taiwan independence" cannot be acted out to victory and cannot be changed. The People's Liberation Army, sleeping with weapons at the ready (枕戈待旦), is continuously enhancing its real combat capabilities for counter-separatism and counter-interference, and remains at all times the solid trump card for defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.