China and the Ethics of Military AI: Debating the Norms of Future Wars

As China emerges as a leading power in artificial intelligence (AI), its views on the ethical use of AI in warfare are increasingly consequential for global security. Yet these perspectives remain underexamined. This article offers the first systematic mapping of China’s domestic discourse on military AI ethics, drawing on official, military, and academic sources. It identifies three defining principles: the de-universalization of ethics in favour of sovereignty-based frameworks; the primacy of Party-led human control; and the strategic use of ambiguity to balance international cooperation with national security. Far from rejecting ethics, Chinese actors actively debate military AI governance on distinct political and geopolitical terms. This framing creates both openings and frictions for international norm-building on AI in warfare.