Military tech, capability surge under Xi's leadership

World-class hardware

Over the past several years, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military and the Party's road map for building technology-empowered armed forces, the PLA has achieved landmark progress in defense technology innovation, next-generation weaponry deployment and the building of new-quality combat capability.

Centered on integrating cutting-edge technologies into operational systems, the massive transformation has upgraded combat capability across the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Space Force and other PLA branches, driving a fundamental shift from quantity-focused growth to quality-centered, tech-led development.

In early July, China successfully conducted a flight test of its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, from a nuclear-powered strategic submarine — the first such public trial in nearly four decades — marking the farthest such trial of any Chinese naval missile to date.

The latest missile test and an ICBM test conducted by the PLA Rocket Force in September 2024 have become major symbolic events showing the significant enhancement of the Chinese military's strategic deterrence capability in recent years and its achievement of world-class weaponry and equipment.

The PLA has also accelerated the application of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, big data analytics and electronic warfare technologies across all branches. The goal is not merely hardware upgrades, but also the building of an integrated combat system that enables precise, coordinated operations across multiple domains, turning technological edge into tangible combat strength.

After years of relentless efforts, the PLA now boasts a great deal of world-class hardware, ranging from stealth fighter jets to hypersonic missiles. Compared with old weaponry, the new types feature greater firepower, stronger protection, higher information-processing capacity and better mobility.

Beyond hardware upgrades, the most profound transformation has been the growth of new-quality combat forces powered by interdisciplinary technologies.

Combat support robots, electronic warfare units and cyberspace defense teams have been integrated into joint operational systems, breaking down traditional service boundaries. AI is now applied in command decision-making, target recognition and logistics planning, cutting response times and boosting operational accuracy. Space-based support systems, including satellite communication and navigation networks, provide a critical information backbone for cross-domain joint operations, turning geographically dispersed forces into a unified, highly efficient combat system.

Wu Peixin, a military affairs observer, said that China has consistently maintained that its national defense policy is defensive in nature, and its military modernization is solely aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

"Our armed forces' tech-driven upgrades are not intended for military expansion or hegemony, but to provide a reliable security foundation for China's peaceful development and contribute to regional and global peace and stability," he said.