China's military has denied that PLA electronic jamming caused two US Navy aircraft to crash in the South China Sea, dismissing allegations as "conspiracy theories." PLA analysts suggested instead that maintenance issues aboard the aging USS Nimitz or contaminated fuel may be responsible for the incidents.

Chinese military observers report the PLA Navy's new Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, has likely begun key electromagnetic catapult tests. The 40,000-tonne drone carrier, spotted with its launch system aimed at the Yangtze River, coincides with a no-entry zone for "underwater activities," pointing to critical EMALS sled tests before sea trials.