Role of AI in Chinese military modernization
Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a central and transformative role in China's military modernization strategy as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) aims to become a "world-class military" by around 2049. China envisions AI as a key enabler of "intelligentized" warfare, which goes beyond mechanization and informatization to fully integrate AI, quantum computing, big data, and other emerging technologies into battlefield systems and command structures.
Key aspects of AI's role in China's military modernization include:
- **Intelligentization of Warfare:** China seeks to transition from traditional mechanized and networked forces to AI-driven "intelligentized" forces that enhance joint operational capabilities, improve command and control, and enable more precise, rapid decision-making in complex combat environments.
- **Unmanned Intelligent Combat Systems:** The PLA is heavily investing in AI-powered unmanned vehicles and weapons systems, such as reconnaissance and strike drones (e.g., the Caihong series), autonomous underwater vehicles, and stealthy high-speed UAVs. These systems are expected to disrupt conventional warfare approaches.
- **Battlefield Situational Awareness and Decision Support:** AI is used to improve situational awareness and assist commanders in making faster, more informed decisions during combat, integrating multi-domain information from cyber, space, air, and land domains.
- **Multi-domain Operations and Training:** AI facilitates coordination across domains and enables advanced training simulations and wargaming programs, preparing forces for future complex conflicts.
- **Military-Civil Fusion:** China leverages civilian AI advances for military purposes, accelerating innovation through integrated resource allocation across sectors.
- **Strategic and Nuclear Enhancements:** AI supports improvements in China's nuclear arsenal management and strategic deterrence capabilities.
- **Organizational Reform:** The PLA is adapting its doctrine and structure to optimally employ AI-enabled systems and conduct intelligentized warfare effectively.
Chinese leadership under Xi Jinping emphasizes accelerating integrated development of mechanization, informatization, and intelligentization by 2027 as part of its modernization milestones. The country's AI-driven military efforts also aim to counterbalance U.S. military technological superiority and create a new type of warfare dominance.
In sum, AI is a foundational pillar of China’s military modernization by enabling smarter, more autonomous, and networked military capabilities that align with their vision of future warfare and geopolitical ambitions.[1][2][3][4][6]
Citations:
[1] Military Artificial Intelligence, the People's Liberation Army, and U.S. ... https://www.cnas.org/publications/congressional-testimony/military-artificial-intelligence-the-peoples-liberation-army-and-u-s-china-strategic-competition
[2] China's Military Employment of Artificial Intelligence and Its Security ... https://www.iar-gwu.org/print-archive/blog-post-title-four-xgtap
[3] Strategic Implications of AI-Driven Military Operations - CENJOWS https://cenjows.in/chinas-algorithmic-warfare-strategic-implications-of-ai-driven-military-operations/
[4] "AI weapons" in China's military innovation - Brookings Institution https://www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-weapons-in-chinas-military-innovation/
[5] China's Military Reportedly Deploys DeepSeek AI for Non-Combat ... https://www.fdd.org/analysis/policy_briefs/2025/03/27/chinas-military-reportedly-deploys-deepseek-ai-for-non-combat-duties/
[6] How Does China Aim to Use AI in Warfare? - The Diplomat https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/how-does-china-aim-to-use-ai-in-warfare/
[7] The PLA's Strategic Support Force and AI Innovation https://inss.ndu.edu/Publications/View-Publications/Article/3270024/the-plas-strategic-support-force-and-ai-innovation/
[8] China will continue to advance its military AI | Oxford Analytica https://www.oxan.com/insights/china-will-continue-to-advance-its-military-ai/
[9] How China Leverages Artificial Intelligence for Military Decision ... https://www.nbr.org/publication/how-china-leverages-artificial-intelligence-for-military-decision-making/
[10] A.I. in the Chinese military: Current initiatives and the implications for ... https://www.orfonline.org/research/a-i-in-the-chinese-military-current-initiatives-and-the-implications-for-india
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