Commentary
As the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launches its 2026 training cycle, Beijing is pairing real-world military exercises with a coordinated media and social media blitz designed to normalize new weapons and project inevitability.
Thinking About China
Opinion
Chinese Military Drills Double as Psychological Warfare Through Propaganda Videos
China has also circulated AI-generated videos depicting robotic platforms, robot dogs, and naval and air assets converging on Taiwan.
Chinese ships patrol as the People's Liberation Army conduct military drills on Pingtan island, in eastern China's Fujian Province, the closest point to Taiwan, on Dec. 30, 2025. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty Images
Antonio Graceffo
Author
Antonio Graceffo, Ph.D., is a China economy analyst who has spent more than 20 years in Asia. Graceffo is a graduate of the Shanghai University of Sport, holds an MBA from Shanghai Jiaotong University, and studied national security at American Military University.
