China in June 2026: the most important developments in security
China in June 2026 was marked by the crash of a small plane into the China Zun tower, Beijing's tallest building, on June 26. The pilot was killed and 13 people were injured. Police sealed off the area, and authorities opened an investigation that was still under way at month end. The incident drew attention to security gaps near Xi Jinping's compound.
Espionage cases were the next largest subject. On June 12 China confirmed the arrest of a US scholar who specializes in Myanmar politics, on suspicion of spying. On June 24 it confirmed the detention of two Japanese nationals, and an official said the case involves alleged smuggling of export-restricted goods. The Five Eyes alliance warned that Chinese spies use LinkedIn to recruit professionals, and MI5 said job websites are being used to target government staff. The FBI seized more than a dozen websites it said Chinese agents used to recruit US officials, and two men were jailed in Britain for spying for China. On June 14 Taiwan launched a website where Chinese nationals can report intelligence.
Around Taiwan and in nearby seas, China announced a special law enforcement operation east of Taiwan on June 7. Taiwan deployed its own vessels and said its coast guard expelled Chinese ships from restricted waters. Taiwan test-fired a missile launcher toward China on June 10, and Chinese official vessels entered waters near Taiwan-held Taiping Island the next day. Taipei said China's most advanced aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait on June 23, and Taiwan held a drill simulating a Chinese maritime quarantine on June 25. In the South China Sea, China built a structure at Scarborough Shoal and the Philippines protested. On June 29 Japan called China Coast Guard moves near Yonaguni Island unacceptable.
On June 27 Chinese and Russian military aircraft conducted a joint patrol, and Seoul said they entered its air defense zone. On June 8 the Pentagon added Alibaba, BYD and WuXi AppTec to its list of companies it says aid the Chinese military, and Alibaba sued the Pentagon on June 24 to be removed.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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