China highlights advanced wartime tech in defence mobilisation law update

China has updated its defence mobilisation law for the first time in 16 years to emphasise the integration of advanced technologies in national defence, according to a new amendment passed by the country's top legislature. The revised law, set to take effect on October 1, recognises the significance of emerging fields such as AI, drones, cyber, and biotechnology in modern warfare.

Experts say the amendment will allow China to rapidly convert these technologies into defence capabilities, and incorporate both civilian hi-tech enterprises and professionals into the country's mobilisation potential. The law now formally defines national defence mobilisation as activities that "guarantee a rapid transition from peacetime to wartime and transform economic and social capabilities into national defence strength."

Moreover, it includes data and software as part of the military's reserve capacity, acknowledging that modern warfare is highly reliant on data-driven intelligence, command, and supply. The revised law also encourages non-government entities and individuals to participate in supplying strategic reserves, emphasising the importance of a well-connected and efficient national defence legal framework to mobilise dispersed resources.