Chinese leader Xi Jinping has issued a strategic directive that fundamentally changes Beijing's approach to defense. The head of state has ordered the acceleration of the integration of unmanned technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) systems into the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The goal is ambitious: to create a new generation of armed forces capable of dominating in the conditions of modern conflicts.
Technological Race with the US
Information about the leader's address to the military leadership was disseminated by Xinhua and Bloomberg. Xi Jinping emphasized that the integration of autonomous systems and neural networks into combat operations is not just modernization, but a necessity for the army's survival in a changing world.
Experts link this move to growing geopolitical tensions. Beijing is increasingly expressing concerns about falling behind the US technologically, which is also actively investing in army robotics and decision-making algorithms. The Chinese leadership realizes that it is unmanned platforms and AI that will change the very nature of future wars.
2027 Deadline
Efforts to digitize the army are backed by a clear deadline. Xi Jinping has set the task of demonstrating significant progress by 2027—the year the PLA will celebrate its centenary. By this date, the army must be fully adapted to new realities: strategies must be reviewed, training programs updated, and a new contingent of personnel prepared to manage complex autonomous systems.
Control Over Technologies
Interestingly, the militarization of AI in China goes hand in hand with attempts to establish global governance in this field. Earlier, Beijing stated its intention to create international rules for the use of artificial intelligence. Xi Jinping has already called on the international community to unite around the Chinese initiative to regulate new technologies, striving to take a leading position in shaping future norms.
