China outlines technology priorities for ‘new era'

The Communist Party of China (CPC) has released more details about its plans to accelerate military modernisation during the country’s 14th Five Year Plan (FYP).

A new draft of the 2021/25 plan issued on 6 March at the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing said priorities during the “new era” featured new military technologies, skills and training, and a shift towards “intelligentisation”.

The draft – published by the People’s Daily, the CPC’s official mouthpiece – also highlights the significance that China will place on military-civil fusion (MCF) over the coming five years in supporting capability developments and China’s efforts towards self-reliance.

The increased integration of unmanned systems and manned platforms (in this case a modified Dongfeng Mengshi 6×6 CTL181A armoured vehicle) is a target under China’s new 14th Five Year Plan. (CETC)

In terms of top-level priorities, the draft 14th FYP said that China would “accelerate the modernisation of weapons and equipment, [and] focus on independent innovation and original innovation in defence science and technology”.

It added, “[China will] accelerate the development of strategic frontier and disruptive technologies and accelerate the upgrading of weapons and equipment and the development of intelligent weapons and equipment”.

The draft then went on to outline some of the methods that China will employ to achieve its military-technology and innovation priorities. Many of these methods are closely linked to China’s continuing policy to fuse military-civilian sectors and technologies, with the aim to secure benefits for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

“[China will deepen military-civilian science and technology collaboration and innovation and strengthen the co-ordinated military-civilian development in maritime, space, cyberspace, biology, new energy, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology etc to promote … the transformation and development of key industries.”