[Book Review]Agnihotri, Kamlesh. 2022. ‘Leveraging High-Technology Developments in the Chinese Military and Maritime Domain: Impact on Indian Ocean Region Security’, National Maritime Foundation, KW Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

The book consisting seven chapters thematically represents two crucial aspects. First, it examines China’s strides in both civilian and military technologies from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum communications to developments of high-tech weapons systems. The second theme is an attempt by Capt. Agnihotri to assess potential influence of China’s dual-use applicable technology, leveraged by the PLA/PLAN, for exerting its dominance in the Indian Ocean Region.

For China, the emphasis on leveraging emerging technology for securing strategic advantage vis-à-vis its peer competitor, namely the US, occupies central place in terms of top priorities under Xi Jinping’s reign. According to author, the PLA initially was forced to invest into Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities as a counter-intervention strategy considering China’s bitter experiences with the US during Taiwan Strait Crisis 1996, Belgrade bombing in 1999 and the collision between the US Navy aircraft and the PLA Air Force fighter plane in 2001. Later, as challenges to Beijing’s maritime sovereignty emanated from the US and its allies, President Hu Jintao in 2012 called for asserting maritime presence by making PLA Navy capable of exploiting marine resources as well as safeguarding maritime sovereignty. Consequently, under Xi Jinping reign, in order to strengthen PLA capabilities to effectively counter a world-class adversary under informationized war conditions, the Party-State launched series of policy measures floating several schemes and programs for upgrading civilian technology as well as PLA’s advanced weapons programs. Some highlighted by the author like Made in China 2025, Next Generation AI Development Plan 2.0 are policies that facilitate both funding and restructuring of defense capability administration in the country. For instance, the High-Tech R&D Plan (863 plan) and National Basic Research Plan (973 plan) are financial support programs footing the bill for advancement in China’s laser, space technology, AI and Unmanned Systems.

Transcending an obvious statement of policies and its aims, in subsequent chapters, the book also provides key details regarding PLA’s pursuit of high-tech weapons development by synergizing civil-military technology. Given an invisible, unmanned and silent nature of future warfare, as anticipated by the PLA; Capt. Agnihotri suggests that AI technology could be integrated to support various missions such as swarming or to improve and make decision-support systems like OODA loop (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act) more automatic and flexible. Moreover, the development of supercomputers, Sunway Taihu Light and Tianhe 2, along with exascale supercomputers will improve big data analytics in terms of speed and precision for military applications such as modelling nuclear weapons and simulations. Quantum Communication projects, both terrestrial and space-based, too, have remained high priority for the Chinese leadership. According to author’s assessment, the quantum communication projects like QKD and QED offer hack-proof connectivity network for the PLA during peacetime and elevates PLAN’s undersea surveillance capabilities, especially with Micius Satellite performing spooky action in association with ground stations from Urumqi to Beijing.

Notwithstanding the focus on civilian technology, the book also accounts high-tech developments directly under the PLA’s ambit. It includes advanced weapons program comprising Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) like DF 17 missiles, Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs) such as DF21D & DF26 and Unmanned Aerial Systems (ex. Wing Loong, Shendiao, Xiantong, Gongji11) which provide China with tactical advantages against adversary like the US. For instance, the DF26 road mobile extends PLA’s offensive multi-axis strike capability as far as Guam. Regarding the maritime domain, Capt. Agnihotri considers Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and Unmanned Under-water Vehicle (UUVs) are crucial for PLA’s tactical military applications like deep sea surveillance, intelligence gathering, scientific missions and limited area denial. He particularly draws attentions to specific USV platforms like A-1150, B-850, C-1500 and D-3000 and AUVs like Qianlong series and Haiyi-7000 underwater glider. In an attempt to quantify PLAN’s existing capacities, author also provides valuable statistics showcasing number of ships and submarines (out of 575 in total) available for various missions, from surveillance and hydropgraphic surveys to harbor tugs and submarine rescue ships. However, subsequent analysis on intelligence collection ships, military landing paltforms and high-technology equipment like EMALS and EMRG allows reader to comprehend the extent of PLA capabilities.

While drawing comparison between India and China in terms of their scale and level of technological accomplishment in the military domain, Captain Agnihotri summarizes that China’s level is about 2.5 times more than India in this regard. It implies, according to his analysis, that India, with its lower technological base, will find it difficult to address challenges emanating from China’s technology-driven military. In conclusion, author predicts two plausible scenarios in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) – Pakistan Navy’s deterrence against India supported by Chinese high-technology and coercive presence of China’s high-technology enabled maritime assets in the region. With its quantitative and qualitative representation of China’s military capabilities, the book brilliantly achieves balance between posing meta-narratives and substantiating the same with facts, figures as well as policy documents such as Defense White Papers and Five Year Plans. Logically designed chapters make reading more convenient and intriguing for every enthusiast expecting intellectual treat.    

Chetananand Patil is a PhD candidate from University of Mumbai working on China’s Role in the UN Peacekeeping. Currently, he is based in Taiwan as a MOFA Taiwan Fellowship visiting scholar at National Chung Hsing University, Taichung.