WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s annual “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China” report, released Dec. 18, underscores the accelerating pace of China’s military modernization, with increasing focus on space and artificial intelligence technologies. The report, often referred to as the China Military Power Report, offers insights into Beijing’s expanding capabilities, many of which are aimed at countering U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
This year’s report places new emphasis on China’s use of satellites and AI to bolster its military operations. It describes how Beijing is increasingly leveraging space-based surveillance to track U.S. and allied forces and enhance its precision-strike capabilities. This capability includes integrating satellite data with advanced AI systems to identify vulnerabilities and guide high-precision missile strikes.
China’s space capabilities have expanded at a rapid rate, the report notes. In 2010, the country operated a modest fleet of 36 satellites. By 2024, that number has surged to over 1,000, with more than 360 dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
“The PRC emphasizes the importance of space-based surveillance capabilities in supporting precision strikes and, in 2022, continued to develop its constellation of military reconnaissance satellites that could support monitoring, tracking, and targeting of U.S. and allied forces,” the report states.
China has embraced “multi-domain precision warfare,” a strategy that integrates AI, big data, and space technologies to conduct highly coordinated military operations. First articulated by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2021, this concept mirrors similar strategies pioneered by the Pentagon but now appears to be a cornerstone of China’s military doctrine. The idea is to synthesize vast amounts of intelligence from various domains — land, sea, air, space and cyberspace — to deliver precise, coordinated strikes.
In addition to its satellite advancements, China continues to pursue anti-satellite weaponry and reusable space plane technology, the report says.
The Pentagon’s assessment suggests that Beijing’s advances are not solely about military confrontation but also reflect ambitions for global technological and strategic leadership.
