China highlights advanced wartime tech in defence mobilisation law update

China's top legislature passed the first amendment in 16 years to its defence mobilisation law on Friday, promoting the application of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, and unmanned systems in national defence. The revised law, effective October 1, also covers cyberspace, biotechnology, and quantum technologies, according to analyst Xie, who cited the Russia-Ukraine conflict as validating the role of unmanned, intelligent, and cyber technologies in modern warfare.

China highlights advanced wartime tech in defence mobilisation law update The first amendment to the law in 16 years is also expected to cover cyberspace, biotechnology and quantum technology, analysts say Albee Zhang /author/albee-zhang in Shanghai drones https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3364661/chinas-drone-production-capacity-can-only-meet-60-war-demand-study?module=inline&pgtype=article . artificial intelligence AI https://www.scmp.com/topics/artificial-intelligence?module=inline&pgtype=article and unmanned systems, into defence capabilities. The revised law, passed by the top legislature on Friday, says that “the state promotes the application of advanced technologies in national defence mobilisation and develops national defence mobilisation forces in emerging fields”, according to the text published by official news agency Xinhua. quantum technologies https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3362629/china-hopes-banish-blackouts-quantum-tech-puts-power-grid-superposition?module=inline&pgtype=article . Xie said the amendment, set to take effect on October 1, not only covered technologies but also market entities and specialised talent in these fields. “The Russia-Ukraine conflict further validates the critical role of unmanned, intelligent and cyber technologies in modern warfare, reinforcing the necessity of this legislation,” Xie said.