A specialised US Defence publication on January 8 described the next-generation cell-network technology, popularly called 5G, promises high speed, low latency, and high throughput and is a new frontier of rivalry in U.S.-China relations. Chinese military and defense industry are avidly exploring 5G’s dual-use and military potential. The advancement of 5G in China is linked to China’s national strategy for military-civil fusion (军民融合). In November 2018, key industry players established the 5G Technology Military-Civil Fusion Applications Industry Alliance, which included ZTE, China Unicom, and the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). This new partnership is to promote collaboration and integrated military and civilian development of defense and commercial applications. The CASIC First Research Academy is focusing on the use of 5G in aerospace. Areas of collaboration could include : communications equipment, such as certain antennas and microwave equipment, for 5G that the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a state-owned defense conglomerate, has proficiency in developing. China’s interest in 5G can be linked to its strategy for national and defense “informatization”, including the Chinese military’s development of C4ISR capabilities. A number of Chinese defense academics and engineers have argued that 5G could improve battlefield communications with faster and more stable information transmission and integration of information. 5G could potentially provide the rapid transmission and bandwidth required to realize the potential of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence (AI) on the battlefield. This would enable the PLA to leverage applications of AI technologies in military affairs. An extensive and integrated infrastructure for 5G could provide a future operational advantage for China. Reportedly, the construction of smart cities has been linked to defense mobilization since at least 2012. Truly “smart” mobilization may rely upon an “intelligent network with interoperability, real-time information exchange, and self-organizing functionality,” such as could be facilitated through 5G. The city of Chongqing has proposed developing a model 5G network and applications demonstration with involvement from China Telecom, China Mobile, and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, a major defense industry conglomerate. Similarly, Sichuan plans to promote partnerships for military-civil fusion in 5G.
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