"Chinese officials last month told Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov that they may resume buying major Russian weapons systems after a break of several years." from South China Morning Post

"China's lack of foreign military bases - it has insisted that it will not station troops abroad - limits its ships on long-term missions."

"Shipyards on Changxing island, Shanghai, and in Dalian, Liaoning, are building China's first homegrown aircraft carrier, military observers say" from South China Morning Post

"China and Turkey started a symbolic joint military exercise yesterday, with Beijing sending troops to a Nato country for the first time."

"Chinese Su-27 fighter jets flew across Iran to Turkey early last month for mock dogfights with Turkish pilots. It was a surprise to many observers and seen as a big test of the PLA air force's long-range refuelling capabilities."

"Moscow is wooing Beijing to resume negotiations on the purchase of Su-33 fighters for future Chinese aircraft carriers after talks collapsed last year, a Macau-based military researcher with strong PLA connections says." from South China Morning Post