It has been a turbulent year for the fraught US-China relationship. In the third part of a series looking back at the events of 2025, we examine China’s growing military might and how it’s narrowing the tech gap with the US.US defence chief Pete Hegseth told a conference in Washington this month that America would maintain a “clear-eyed appreciation” of China’s “rapid, formidable and holistic” military build-up.

That build-up is being watched globally, with defence experts in recent years tracking the country’s military advances as the People’s Liberation Army – the biggest standing army in the world – modernises at a rapid clip.

In the past 12 months, observers have been keeping tabs on social media for any clues as to the progress of two sixth-generation fighter jets under development in China.Meanwhile, there has been much discussion about the purpose of a mysterious submarine-like vessel, as well as underwater drones being tested in the South China Sea.In space, there have been reports from satellite companies on the docking of two Chinese satellites that are believed to have carried out an in-orbit refuelling some 36,000km (22,370 miles) above Earth.

And from time to time, images of large Chinese drones under development have appeared on military websites.