PLA showcases YJ-20 hypersonic missiles as Balikatan drills heat up South China Sea

News - South China Morning Post / Alcott Wei — April 27, 2026 at 11:26 AM UTC

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Video of PLA Navy strike tests emerges as US, allies take part in Balikatan 2026, marking Japan’s first-ever operational role in the drills

China Military Bugle, a social media account run by the People’s Liberation Army, posted a video on Sunday of the PLA Navy conducting strike tests at sea, including multiple YJ-20 launches.

While some of the footage matched video released by the PLA last December of the Type 055 destroyer Wuxi test-firing a YJ-20, Sunday’s video included two new shots of the launch.

Source: News - South China Morning Post