China's military modernization strategy 2025

China's military modernization strategy 2025

China's military modernization strategy as of 2025 is aimed at achieving a "world-class military" status by around 2049, following a phased approach with specific milestones set for 2027 and 2035. The strategy emphasizes accelerating integrated development across mechanization, informationization, and intelligence domains, focusing on:

- Modernizing military theory, organization, personnel, and weapons.

- Enhancing joint operational capabilities, including improving command and control structures.

- Expanding and modernizing the nuclear arsenal, with projections for operational warheads to exceed 1,000 by 2030 and up to 1,200 by 2035.

- Developing advanced weapons systems such as hypersonic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to enable precise deterrence and strike capabilities.

- Strengthening forces for potential contingencies, particularly focused on Taiwan, while weighing geopolitical risks and economic sanctions.

- Incorporating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, high-power microwave weapons, and improving cyber and space domains.

- Structural reforms like the April 2024 establishment of the Information Support Force (ISF) to enhance information dominance and integrated joint operations.

- Deepening military-civil fusion to leverage civilian tech for military use.

- Expanding geopolitical influence through military ties with countries like Russia and Iran and deploying Chinese-made systems abroad, e.g., missile defense deployment in Serbia.

These efforts are framed within Xi Jinping’s "Three-Step" modernization plan:

1. Achieve key reforms and strengthening by 2027 (the PLA centenary).

2. By 2035, basically realize modernization of national defense and the army.

3. By mid-21st century, fully modernize China’s military into a world-class force.

Challenges include managing intensifying US-China strategic rivalry, export controls restricting tech access, and operational risks in territorial disputes. Reforms seek to improve PLA’s capabilities to conduct joint operations effectively, avoid Russian-style operational difficulties seen in Ukraine, and bolster confidence in pursuing regional and global military objectives.

This comprehensive approach shows China focusing heavily on technology, information dominance, nuclear and missile capabilities, and joint force readiness for regional conflicts and broader power projection by 2025 and beyond[1][2][3][5][6].

Citations:

[1] The Pentagon Report: China's Military Rise and its ... https://chinaobservers.eu/the-pentagon-report-chinas-military-rise-and-its-implications-for-the-west/

[2] Checking in on Modernization and Reforms in the People's ... https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Other-Topics/2025-06-02%20Checking%20in%20on%20Modernization%20in%20the%20PLA.pdf?ver=LSKY-oa03mfs4MVBHDQTVA%3D%3D

[3] China's Progress Toward Military Supremacy https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/chinas-progress-toward-military-supremacy/

[4] China's military modernization 'remarkable', bolstering its ... https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1339825.shtml

[5] A New Step in China's Military Reform - NDU Press https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/4157257/a-new-step-in-chinas-military-reform/

[6] China's Military Modernisation: Recent Trends - 2024 https://www.orfonline.org/research/contemporary-trends-in-china-s-military-modernisation

[7] Beyond Comparisons: India's Strategic Reckoning amid ... https://warontherocks.com/2025/04/beyond-comparisons-indias-strategic-reckoning-amid-chinas-military-modernization/

[8] China's Military Modernization and Its Implications for ... https://www.ijfmr.com/research-paper.php?id=39639

[9] Military and Security Developments Involving the People's ... https://media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/18/2003615520/-1/-1/0/MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA-2024.PDF

[10] Web Book: Chinese Strategy and Military Modernization https://www.csis.org/analysis/web-book-chinese-strategy-and-military-modernization