Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to prioritize the development of an 'intelligent military system' with an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems. This directive comes amidst the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ban on the sale of retired military equipment due to security risks, highlighting the country's concerns about maintaining the secrecy and technological edge of its military-industrial complex.
Analysts tracking the PLA describe the 'intelligent military' as a whole-of-nation effort, mobilizing the country's scientific and industrial base to match or exceed US military capabilities by mid-century. The PLA has already demonstrated a significant commitment to AI and unmanned platforms, which are viewed as crucial for modern warfare.
Meanwhile, research surfaced of PLA-linked work using Western AI models, obtained through distillation, to train domestic defense tools, indicating that China's 'intelligent military' is being assembled, in part, from foreign technologies.
However, the CCP's ban on selling retired military equipment, which was recently issued, reveals concerns about more than just secrecy leaks. The authorities worry that individuals within the military might sell used military equipment through underground channels - goods that could ultimately be resold to foreign adversaries, further highlighting the need for control and secrecy in the PLA's military-industrial complex.
The ban excludes selling dual-use dismantled parts included in the public sales catalog of the China Rongtong Asset Management Group, as well as other equipment authorized for sale by the military. Experts note that the PLA operates in a 'black box' environment with a lack of external oversight on equipment procurement, decommissioning, and asset disposal, leading to corruption and security risks.