The US is working on cheaper munitions. Should China follow its lead?

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Alcott WeiJanuary 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The US is working on cheaper munitions. Should China follow its lead?

AI Summary

short article 1 min

A Chinese military magazine suggests China should emulate the US and invest in cheaper guided munitions to prepare for potential large-scale drone warfare. The article highlights the disproportionate cost incurred by the US when using expensive missiles to counter inexpensive Houthi attacks in 2023. It notes the US is now developing more affordable long-range munitions to address this issue. The Chinese magazine argues that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) could benefit from a similar strategy, as low-cost munitions are crucial for both large-scale attrition warfare against powerful adversaries and quickly defeating weaker opponents. This investment would allow the PLA to maintain a high-low mix of weaponry and reduce overall war costs.

Keywords

low-cost munitions 100% guided munitions 70% attrition warfare 60% drone warfare 60% us military 50% long-range munitions 50% people's liberation army (pla) 50% high-low mix 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral
Score: 0.10

Source Transparency

Source
South China Morning Post
Political Lean
Center-Right (0.50)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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