People's Liberation Army

China

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the combined military forces of the People's Republic of China, including ground, naval, aerial, and rocket forces, dedicated to national defense and military operations.

CCI Score

-61.64

0.26% May 31

Latest Event

PLA’s AI-Driven Cognitive Warfare and Authoritarian Vulnerabilities

Analysis of the PLA’s reliance on AI to conduct cognitive warfare, including disinformation campaigns and psychological operations, reveals significant vulnerabilities caused by authoritarian filtering of intelligence. This militarized use of AI reinforces repressive governance and underlines risks associated with centralizing decision-making in an authoritarian regime.

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People's Liberation Army is currently rated as an Architect.

-60 to -100 CCI Score

Companies in this category are instrumental in designing and executing authoritarian rule. They actively create and implement frameworks that sustain oppressive policies, wielding considerable influence in shaping autocratic systems.

Latest Events

MAR

18

2025

PLA’s AI-Driven Cognitive Warfare and Authoritarian Vulnerabilities
-68.58

Analysis of the PLA’s reliance on AI to conduct cognitive warfare, including disinformation campaigns and psychological operations, reveals significant vulnerabilities caused by authoritarian filtering of intelligence. This militarized use of AI reinforces repressive governance and underlines risks associated with centralizing decision-making in an authoritarian regime.
-70

Provision of Repressive Technologies

April 1

The PLA’s integration of AI-driven systems for cognitive warfare—designed to automate disinformation, psychological operations, and real-time battlefield intelligence—serves as an enabler for authoritarian control. This dependency on technology to shape perceptions and control information flows is indicative of the use of repressive technologies that compromise transparency and accountability in military operations.

AI Dependence and Political Blind Spots Undermine Beijing’s War Strategy
OCT

24

2023

PLA’s Increasing Political Military Engagement
-76.65

U.S. defense officials reported that China is increasingly leveraging the People’s Liberation Army to achieve its political and foreign policy objectives, underscoring a shift towards a more authoritarian military posture.
-90

Public and Political Behavior

April 1

The report highlights the growing use of the PLA for political and foreign policy aims, a move that reinforces authoritarian practices by conflating military power with political strategy. This increased reliance on the military to achieve state objectives reflects an endorsement of centralized, authoritarian government control.

China Is Relying More on Its Military to Achieve Political Goals
OCT

01

2017

New PLA Leadership Consolidates Xi's Authoritarian Vision
-39.68

The article details sweeping changes in the PLA leadership under Xi Jinping, emphasizing ideological loyalty, anti-corruption measures, and modernization of military capabilities. These reforms have been orchestrated to tighten central control over the armed forces, effectively consolidating authoritarian power within the military structure.
-90

Executive Political Engagement

April 1

The restructuring and appointment of loyal, politically vetted officers under Xi Jinping enhances central authority over the PLA. This move minimizes internal dissent and oversight, reinforcing an authoritarian command structure that prioritizes loyalty over institutional checks and balances.

The New PLA Leadership: Xi Molds China's Military to His Vision
-80

Provision of Repressive Technologies

April 1

The modernization and restructuring efforts include the development of advanced military capabilities that can be utilized for both external aggression and internal repression. This technological upgrade indirectly supports authoritarian practices by enhancing the state's capacity to surveil and control, reinforcing the use of repressive technologies.

The New PLA Leadership: Xi Molds China's Military to His Vision