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Xi urges Chinese armed forces to ‘strengthen military application’ of AI

08:25 · July 31, 2026 · RSS APP - Military Autonomous Systems

Xi urges Chinese armed forces to ‘strengthen military application’ of AI

Xi was speaking ahead of the PLA’s 99th anniversary and his comments offer a rare insight into how its modernisation is progressing.

Summary

Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the People’s Liberation Army to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence into its operational systems. The directive forms part of a sustained national effort to build what authorities term an intelligent military, one that combines advanced data processing, automated decision support, and sensor fusion with existing command structures.

The comments were issued ahead of the PLA’s 99th anniversary. Public statements of this kind remain infrequent and therefore supply one of the few direct indications of how military modernization is advancing beyond conventional hardware upgrades.

The emphasis on AI application reflects a broader pattern in which computational tools are expected to improve situational awareness, logistics planning, and targeting accuracy. Details on specific platforms or deployment timelines are not provided in the statement itself.

Why it matters

Understanding China's push for military AI is critical for Dutch and NATO defense strategists and military officers to assess global threat landscapes. It provides essential context for developing counter-capabilities and shaping European defense AI doctrine.

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