Are Western defence firms aiming at the Chinese navy in their promo videos?

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Phoebe ZhangJanuary 18, 2026 at 12:30 PM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Two Western defense companies are under scrutiny for promotional videos that appear to target Chinese warships. BAE Systems, a London-based firm, posted a video on social media showcasing its naval weapons systems at a recent US defense industry conference. The animated video depicted a naval base launching missiles to strike an enemy vessel resembling China's Type 054A guided-missile frigate. Military observers noted the similarity between the targeted ship in the animation and the Type 054A, a key component of the Chinese navy. The video's release raises questions about whether Western defense firms are intentionally focusing on Chinese naval assets in their marketing materials.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

London 30% Pakistan 40% United States 40% People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 60% Type 054A ×270% PLA Navy 70% China ×280% BAE Systems ×290%

Keywords

chinese navy 90% defence firms 80% pla navy 80% type 054a 70% promotional videos 70% weapons systems 70% guided-missile frigate 60% bae systems 60% warship 60% naval weapons 50%