China has disclosed an incident last year in which one of its J-16 aircraft locked onto and expelled two unnamed foreign stealth fighter jets of a type that has not appeared near the country’s coastal waters since.

Without naming any country, Li said the foreign forces had “clear intentions … of intersecting and provoking us” and that they were “directly heading for our two aircraft”.

Beijing has built more structures resembling Taiwan’s key government buildings at its military base in Inner Mongolia, according to satellite images obtained by a Japanese think tank, a move that suggests more systematic training for a potential conflict across the strait.

Xi’s National Day speech warns against Taiwan independence

Xi’s National Day speech warns against Taiwan independence

According to Sankei Shimbun, Beijing has in recent years built facilities at the base resembling the buildings of Taiwan’s foreign and defence ministries.

It said the new framework was scheduled for implementation in Form Four starting in the 2027-28 school year and would apply to the Diploma of Secondary Education exams from 2030 onwards.

“As the curricula of the senior secondary Chinese history and history subjects have been implemented since 2009 for over 16 years, it is necessary to review and update the curriculum content for continuous optimisation … ensuring that students’ learning keeps pace with the times,” the bureau said in a circular to secondary school heads.

“The Chinese history subject has placed excessive emphasis on political history, and it is recommended that students should gain a comprehensive and balanced understanding of China’s development from ancient to modern times.”