Xi Jinping Calls for High-Tech ‘Smart System’ to Boost China’s Border Defence

Introduction: Technology at the Core of China’s Defence Modernisation

President Xi Jinping has issued a renewed call to modernize China’s border security architecture through the deployment of high-tech “smart systems” to confront what he described as “new opportunities and challenges” in national defense. The remarks were delivered during a high-level group study session of the Communist Party’s Politburo, reflecting the leadership’s growing emphasis on integrating cutting-edge technologies across China’s border, maritime, and air defense frameworks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the adoption of high-tech solutions and a “smart system” to fortify China’s border, maritime, and air defences. His comments, made during a Politburo study session on July 30, reflect the country’s accelerating push to integrate advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and real-time surveillance—into national defence. The move underscores Beijing’s view that the external security environment is becoming increasingly complex, requiring new modes of deterrence and response.

Modernising the Border Defence Framework

President Xi Jinping has issued a renewed call to modernize China’s border security architecture through the deployment of high-tech “smart systems” to confront what he described as “new opportunities and challenges” in national defense. The remarks were delivered during a high-level group study session of the Communist Party’s Politburo, reflecting the leadership’s growing emphasis on integrating cutting-edge technologies across China’s border, maritime, and air defense frameworks.

Xi stressed the need to “strengthen technological empowerment” and “enhance the development of new methods and conditions for border, maritime, and air defence.” His vision is rooted in transforming China’s traditional border control architecture into a comprehensive, intelligent, and fully integrated system capable of real-time threat detection and rapid response. This objective is consistent with the broader military transformation goals set for 2027 and the long-term ambition of building a world-class military by 2050.

From Legacy Defenses to Smart Borders

While the session offered limited technical specifics, military writings—such as prior PLA Daily articles—have hinted at the kinds of advancements envisioned. These include networked early warning systems, drone surveillance integrated with AI analytics, and unmanned weapons optimized for real-time threat identification and response. Such systems are particularly crucial along China’s vast and diverse border zones, where terrain complexity and geopolitical sensitivities complicate traditional force deployments.

Xi emphasized the importance of enhancing “new methods and conditions” for border control, calling for a smart, stable, and modernized defense posture across air, sea, and land. “As the world undergoes unprecedented change,” Xi said, “border defense construction faces a growing mix of security risks and developmental opportunities.” He called for greater cross-domain coordination, combining the strengths of military units, civilian authorities, local governments, and public security forces. China is expected to deploy autonomous ground vehicles and drones to patrol remote or rugged terrains where traditional human monitoring is limited. Artificial intelligence is envisioned to be a core component of weapons systems and surveillance tools, allowing for faster threat identification and decision-making.

Advanced reconnaissance and early warning networks will integrate satellite data, radar arrays, and ground-based sensors to monitor China’s vast land and maritime boundaries. These systems will be supplemented by big data analytics and smart command centers, enabling a fusion of information from multiple domains. Collectively, these technologies form a “system of systems” designed to enhance both peacetime monitoring and rapid wartime responsiveness.

Strategic Context: Mounting Regional Tensions Drive Technological Urgency

China’s renewed focus on smart border systems comes amid persistent maritime and territorial frictions. In the South China Sea, Beijing’s disputes with the Philippines have escalated, with the China Coast Guard (CCG) intensifying its patrols and resorting to non-kinetic tools like water cannons and lasers. In the East China Sea, tensions with Japan over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands persist. Meanwhile, along the Himalayan border, recent standoffs with India have highlighted the tactical disadvantages of slow, manpower-heavy deployments.

Xi’s renewed focus on border security comes amid a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions. In the South China Sea, China’s expansive territorial claims continue to spark confrontations with Southeast Asian nations, especially the Philippines. In the East China Sea, China remains locked in a dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands. The emergence of new regional security frameworks, such as the U.S.-Japan-Philippines alliance, has further heightened Beijing’s sense of strategic encirclement.

Xi framed the current moment as part of “a century of accelerating changes,” warning that the challenges to China’s sovereignty and security are becoming more intricate. He urged greater coordination and preparedness to address these evolving threats through technological superiority and strategic foresight.

Civil-Military Coordination and Institutional Reform

Xi highlighted that the responsibility for border security does not lie with the military alone. Instead, he advocated for coordinated action across multiple actors, including the armed forces, police units, civilian agencies, and local governments. He praised recent structural reforms to the border defence apparatus, which have streamlined force composition, updated policies, and improved management models. According to Xi, these reforms have enabled more effective protection of China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.

The approach reflects a shift from siloed bureaucratic functions toward an integrated national security model. Border defence is now seen as a whole-of-government task, requiring interoperability and coordinated response across institutional lines.

Maritime and Air Defence: The Role of the China Coast Guard

Although Xi did not specifically mention the China Coast Guard (CCG), its importance in defending China’s maritime claims has grown significantly in recent years. Since 2018, the CCG has operated under the command of the People’s Armed Police and reports to the Central Military Commission. This restructuring has transformed the CCG into a more assertive and militarised entity capable of executing strategic deterrence missions.

In 2024, the CCG intensified its patrols around Taiwan and conducted aggressive law enforcement activities in the South China Sea, including incidents where water cannons and lasers were used against Philippine vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal. The coastguard’s expanding role underscores Beijing’s use of hybrid tactics—combining legal enforcement with military posturing—to reinforce its maritime territorial claims.

PLA Day and National Morale

In closing, Xi extended greetings to all officers and soldiers in celebration of the People’s Liberation Army’s anniversary on August 1. He used the occasion to reaffirm the central role of the PLA in China’s quest for national rejuvenation. Border defence, in his view, is not just about security—it is integral to safeguarding China’s development interests, geopolitical ambitions, and the narrative of a strong and modern nation.