{
  "id": 148734,
  "title": "Why China’s military is laser-focused on ‘disruptive’ technologies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/why-chinas-military-is-laser-focused-on-disruptive-technologies-148734",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-04T22:00:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3362909/why-chinas-military-laser-focused-disruptive-technologies"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In August 2023, China marked its 99th anniversary as the People’s Liberation Army, with plans to reach its centenary goals within a year. In 1999, a PLA strategist named Qiao Liang argued in his influential book, Unrestricted Warfare, that China should focus on developing asymmetric advantages against the US rather than matching its military capabilities. Qiao highlighted the importance of finance, cyberspace, and psychological operations in future wars, stating that China didn't need to have what the US had but needed to have what it didn't. Over three decades, the book has gained significant attention in Western military circles and continues to influence Chinese military strategists. In recent years, the PLA has pursued emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum tech, hypersonic weapons, and directed-energy systems as part of its modernisation efforts. In 2024, a mysterious tailless aircraft was spotted in the skies over Chengdu, signaling China's entry into the global race for sixth-generation air power. This aircraft, along with another tailless prototype, represented China's technological advancements and its vision for future warfare based on intelligentisation, where fighter jets would combine the roles of fighter and commander, integrating multiple unmanned aerial platforms.",
  "summary": "Having marked its 99th anniversary on August 1, the People’s Liberation Army is now just a year away from its centenary goals, with its evolution highlighting the past, present and future of China’s military strategy. In the fourth part of a series, Amber Wang looks at the PLA’s pursuit of emerging technologies. In an influential book published nearly three decades ago, a PLA military strategist…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Why China’s military is laser-focused on ‘disruptive’ technologies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/why-chinas-military-is-laser-focused-on-disruptive-technologies",
        "published": "2026-08-04T22:00:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Taiwan begins military drills as China pressure grows",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/taiwan-begins-military-drills-as-china-pressure-grows",
        "published": "2026-08-05T02:59:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}