China's 2026 Military Report Highlights PLA Focus on Blockade and Control of Taiwan
Quick Look
China's 2026 Military Power Report submitted to the legislature states that recent PLA exercises increasingly focus on joint blockade and control of Taiwan's external air and sea routes, maritime and air blockades, firepower strikes, battlefield superiority, and amphibious landings to strengthen anti-access and area-denial capabilities against potential foreign intervention.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification. The 2026 Military Power Report outlines the PLA's evolving training focus.
The assessment was made in the ministry’s “2026 China Military Power Report”, which was submitted to the legislature this week along with its five-year force development plan and next year’s proposed defence budget.
The report said recent PLA exercises were increasingly focused on the “joint blockade and control” of the island’s external air and sea routes.
“Combined with annual PLA training, the exercises have increasingly focused on maritime and air blockades or quarantines, joint firepower strikes, seizure of comprehensive battlefield superiority and joint amphibious landing operations,” it said.
The aim was to strengthen the PLA’s ability to target Taiwan, as well as carry out anti-access and area-denial operations to counter potential foreign intervention, the report continued.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China and has never ruled out the use of force to reunite it with the mainland.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
PLA will continue to increase frequency and scale of joint blockade and control exercises targeting Taiwan's air and sea routes.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific timeline does the PLA have for achieving blockade capabilities?
- How might foreign powers respond to increased PLA blockade exercises?
- What is the scale of the proposed defence budget for next year?
