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OPINION DECEMBER 09, 2022 | The Indian Eye 12

prepared for the growing symmetric
and asymmetric combat domains,
especially in geographical and cy-
ber space. Numerous crucial tech-
nologies, including robots, big data,
quantum computing, etc., are expect-
ed to enable PLA forces to be better
prepared, especially at a time when
asymmetric warfare is changing the
dimensions across battlespace.

In its geopolitical rivalry with
the United States, China plac-
es a high importance on AI as
a crucial technology. Chinese

military experts predict that AI
will be essential to overtaking
the US military as the most pow-
erful armed force in the world.

As a result, China has developed
a plan to take the lead in AI by 2030.
Beijing’s ‘New Generation Artificial
Intelligence Development Plan’ was In its geopolitical rivalry with the United States, China places a high importance on AI as a crucial technology. Chinese military experts predict
published in July 2017, with three key
strategic objectives—to raise China’s that AI will be essential to overtaking the US military as the most powerful armed force in the world
AI industry to the level of the global
state-of-the-art; to make significant The New Generation Artificial Intel-
advances in fundamental AI theo- ligence Development Plan is being
ry by 2025; and to make China the seen as the “poster child” for MCF
world leader in AI theory, technolo- because it takes use of developments
gy, and applications by 2030. in commercial AI to accelerate the
China is seeking to ‘infuse AI’ development of technology essential
into almost every component of the for future military modernization.
PLA’s operations and equipment. Already, 4IR technologies are
The upgrading of the PLA to intel- being utilized to increase the capabil-
ligent warfare is linked to China’s AI ities of weapons systems like drones
plan as well as other significant in- (both armed and unarmed). MCF
vestments in important technical in- has integrated military moderniza-
dustries, particularly in the “national tion with civilian technical innova-
defense construction, security assess- tion in a number of crucial dual-use
ment, and control capabilities”. technology areas. MCF has “includ-
ed deeper integration of military and
Intelligentised Warfare and civilian administration at all levels of
government: in national defense mo-
Military–Civil Fusion bilization, airspace management and
civil air defense, reserve and militia
hinese military modernization forces, and border and coastal de- China is deploying advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine
is expected to become more fense”. learning, automation and robots, quantum computing, big data, 5G networking, and the Inter-
Cand more associated with civil The PLA’s Strategic Support
technological innovation. The major- Force (SSF) was established in 2015 net of Things (IoT), for military purposes
ity of 4IR breakthroughs—particular- and is in charge of space, cyber influ-
ly in the areas of AI, machine learn- ence operations and electronic war- across Chinese research industries, before such 4IR technologies can be
ing, big data, etc., —are occurring in fare. especially in semiconductors, though, widely adopted by the PLA.
the commercial sector. Because of It has “energetically built ties are being flagged as some of the rea- Views expressed are of the author and
this reliance on commercial technolo- outside the military arena, signing co- sons that could cause impediments to do not necessarily reflect the views of
gy, Military Civil Fusion (MCF), also operation agreements with research the PLA’s modernization plan. the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
known as ‘civil–military integration’ universities and other research cen- Therefore, even as China has Government of India.
(CMI), has become a more crucial ters for developing enhanced capa- made progress in its endeavor to har-
military-technological innovation ap- bilities for integration of 4IR tools to ness commercial high technology for This article first appeared in the
proach. its spherical domain”. the PLA’s modernization efforts and Comments section of the website (www.
MCF is essential to the PLA’s The ongoing technological de- to be combat-ready in line with the idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
embrace of intelligentised combat, as nial by the West and the lack of ex- needs of the 21st century, there are for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
seen by efforts to use AI to this end. pertise in technological advancement still obstacles that must be overcome Delhi on December 1, 2022

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