Quantum computing in China’s military
China’s military integration of quantum computing and related quantum technologies is focused mainly on quantum communications, quantum sensing, and cryptography, rather than currently deploying full-scale quantum computing for widespread military operations.
Key points on quantum computing and quantum tech in China’s military as of 2025:
- **Quantum Communications and Cryptography:** China operates the world's largest quantum secure communication network, including satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD), which is used for theoretically unbreakable “hack-proof” encryption to secure military and government communications at scale. China also invests heavily in post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to develop encryption algorithms resistant to future quantum computer attacks.
- **Quantum Sensing:** The Chinese military has funded projects in quantum sensing technologies as part of national defense R&D. This includes efforts toward quantum radar (potentially capable of detecting stealth aircraft), quantum navigation systems independent of GPS, and quantum magnetometers for submarine detection. Quantum sensing is considered a potential game-changer in operational military capabilities.
- **Quantum Computing R&D:** China is active in developing quantum computers and quantum chips (such as a 504-qubit superconducting chip), aiming to improve quantum control systems and advance computing capabilities. However, practical military deployment or operational use of quantum computing for codebreaking or battlefield applications remains limited or classified. Chinese researchers have demonstrated experimental quantum attacks on some classical encryption algorithms, but these achievements are early-stage and do not represent a broad capability to break military encryption currently.
- **Strategic Military Integration:** According to both Chinese and U.S. defense reports, China combines advancements in AI, quantum technologies, and military-civil fusion to pursue a “revolution in military affairs.” This includes quantum sensing to enhance submarine detection, improved battlefield awareness, and potentially supporting soldiers’ capabilities via brain-computer interfaces.
- **Cautions:** Western experts and the U.S. Department of Defense emphasize that some claimed capabilities, such as quantum radar, remain scientifically challenging and under development. Quantum computing’s practical military application is still nascent globally.
In summary, China leads globally in quantum-secure communications and is advancing quantum sensing and computing research with significant military interest. The PLA is integrating these quantum technologies to modernize and enhance operational capabilities, focusing currently more on secure communications and sensing rather than widespread quantum computing deployment for direct military applications.
This reflects a strategic approach to leverage quantum tech to achieve communication security, sensing advantages, and early quantum computing progress, which could confer future military advantages as the technologies mature.
Sources include detailed recent analyses on Chinese quantum communications and sensing programs, official defense reports, and academic research summaries from 2024–2025[1][2][3][5].
Citations:
[1] China's Quantum Computing and Quantum Technology ... https://postquantum.com/quantum-computing/china-quantum/
[2] The Chinese Industrial Base and Military Deployment of ... https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimonies/CTA3100/CTA3189-1/RAND_CTA3189-1.pdf
[3] How Innovative Is China in Quantum? https://itif.org/publications/2024/09/09/how-innovative-is-china-in-quantum/
[4] Chinese scientists hack encryption in quantum computer ... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3282051/chinese-scientists-hack-military-grade-encryption-quantum-computer-paper
[5] DoD's 2024 China Report Highlights Plans for AI and ... https://www.hpcwire.com/2025/01/07/dods-2024-china-report-highlights-plans-for-ai-and-quantum-in-military-use/
[6] China's long view on quantum tech has the US and EU ... https://merics.org/en/report/chinas-long-view-quantum-tech-has-us-and-eu-playing-catch
[7] Debunking Hype: China Hasn't Broken Military Encryption ... https://www.forbes.com/sites/craigsmith/2024/10/16/department-of-anti-hype-no-china-hasnt-broken-military-encryption-with-quantum-computers/
[8] U.S. Trails China by a Decade in Quantum Computing https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/us-trails-china-decade-quantum-computing
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