China's Military Revolution: How Drones and Robots are Transforming Warfare in 2026

Bae Sam-jin | 2026.04.21

Translation result

People's Liberation Army-operated drones and robot dogs

China is accelerating the deployment of unmanned combat systems that pair aerial drones with robotic ground platforms — a development analysts say could be adapted for crowd-control and protest suppression. The People's Liberation Army recently released footage of urban combat exercises that integrated drones, unmanned ground vehicles and robot dogs to test a manned-unmanned teaming concept. In those drills, small drones and unmanned platforms conducted reconnaissance and breaching tasks while infantry forces executed operations informed by that support. The PLA says this manned-unmanned approach has already become a standard operating method. Separately, researchers published a paper outlining a scenario in which AI-enabled unmanned units would scout, cordon off and detain protesters. Framed around Taipei, the study envisions humans stepping back from direct, on-the-ground control and limiting their role to final approvals and setting ethical parameters. Defense experts warn that while unmanned systems could improve efficiency if applied beyond the battlefield to policing, they also raise risks — including misidentification, erroneous force decisions and vulnerabilities to hacking or other cyberattacks.