China Proposes Law to Integrate Civilian AI and Data into Military Mobilization

The National People's Congress (NPC) has proposed the first draft revisions to the National Defense Mobilization Law since 2010, signaling a major shift in how China integrates civilian technology into its military apparatus. The updates aim to modernize the state's mobilization system by codifying the direct integration of AI, cybersecurity, and data services into military operations.

According to the draft, Article 4 explicitly calls for raising the "informatization and intelligentization level" of national defense mobilization. The proposed legal framework expands the state's reach into the private sector, with Articles 45 and 47 extending stockpiling and priority supply obligations to include software and data. Furthermore, Article 71 adds wireless communications to the list of sectors subject to wartime state control. To ensure these assets can be rapidly deployed, Article 44 introduces new requirements for mobilization agencies to conduct supply chain security assessments for military equipment.

A Strategy of Fusion

These revisions are part of a broader strategy to fuse national development with national defense. The 15-year gap since the original 2010 law reflects the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. By standardizing data collection and exchange between civilian and military systems, the NPC seeks to facilitate a "factories directly to battlefields" (工厂直达战场) logistics model, ensuring that industrial capacity can be converted to military use with minimal friction.

Implications for the Tech Sector

This legal shift formalizes the "military-civil fusion" strategy, making civilian tech firms—particularly those in cloud computing, AI, and cyber services—legally accountable to wartime planning. It indicates that the PRC views civilian technological advancement not merely as a driver of economic growth, but as a foundational layer for military readiness. For international observers and firms, the move underscores the inherent dual-use nature of high-tech operations within China and the state's intent to seize control of critical communications and data infrastructure during a conflict.

Next Steps

As the draft moves through the legislative process, observers will be watching for the final language regarding the scope of "wireless communications" and whether this extends to civilian satellite systems. The implementation of these supply chain assessments also remains a key point of interest, as it may dictate how civilian tech firms must structure their operations to comply with national security mandates.