The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, having marked its 99th anniversary on August 1, 2026, is intensifying its focus on emerging and disruptive technologies as it nears its centenary goals. This evolution reflects the past, present, and future of China’s military strategy.

Nearly three decades ago, PLA military strategist Qiao Liang, co-authoring with Wang Xiangsui, argued in the influential 1999 book Unrestricted Warfare that China should not attempt to match the United States weapon for weapon. Instead, China should develop asymmetric advantages against its stronger rival. Drawing lessons from the US victory in the Gulf War, Qiao highlighted that warfare was entering an informationized era and noted that China was lagging behind the US.

Qiao and Wang also emphasized that finance, cyberspace, and psychological operations would play crucial roles in future conflicts. "We don’t necessarily need to have what the US has," Qiao wrote in 1999. "We need to have what it doesn’t."

Since then, Unrestricted Warfare has attracted significant attention in Western military circles and is studied at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, as part of broader discussions on Chinese strategic thinking.

Today, the PLA continues to pursue disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, hypersonic weapons, and directed-energy systems, as part of its modernization efforts.

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