Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked the armed forces to expand the use of AI and improve combat capabilities as China pushes to build what he called an “intelligent military system”. Speaking ahead of the People’s Liberation Army’s 99th anniversary on Saturday, Xi said combat effectiveness must remain the main test for high-quality modernisation of the military.
Xi said the PLA had made “significant progress” in modernisation, but called for “decisive” advances to meet its targets. He said the armed forces must move faster towards the goals set for the PLA’s centenary in 2027 and strengthen national defence and the military as part of China’s broader modernisation drive.
At a Politburo group study session on Thursday, Xi said the PLA should “strengthen the military application of unmanned intelligent technologies, deepen the development and application of network information systems, and gradually build an intelligent military system”, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. Unmanned technologies broadly refer to AI tools.
“Combat capabilities remain the ultimate objective and testing criterion for promoting the high-quality modernisation of national defence and the armed forces,” Xi said. He added that it was vital to improve the systematic integration of combat capabilities, carry out rigorous combat-oriented testing and evaluation, and strengthen military training and combat readiness to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.
Xi, who heads the Central Military Commission, the PLA’s top command body, has increased real-time exercises since taking power in 2012 to test the military’s strength. He said that since 2012, the PLA had made “historic achievements” and undergone “historic transformations” in the effort to build a strong military.
He also said the PLA should provide strong strategic support for building a great country and achieving national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernisation. Xi stressed the need to uphold and strengthen the Communist Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces and fully implement the policy of enhancing political loyalty in the military in the new era.
Xi further called for efforts to continue the fight against corruption, improve the supervision system for major projects, and ensure all initiatives were backed by quality, capability and integrity. Since taking office, he has made the anti-corruption campaign a central political plank, which critics say has helped him consolidate power. The campaign has led to disciplinary action and punishment for more than a million officials, including dozens of senior military officers.
In summary, Xi used the run-up to the PLA anniversary to press for faster military modernisation, greater use of AI and stricter combat readiness, while also linking the military’s development to party control, anti-corruption efforts and China’s 2027 goals.
With PTI Inputs
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