China's Military Leadership Crisis: The Role of AI and Human Commanders

The Chinese military is undergoing a significant transformation, with the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its operations. However, the People's Liberation Army Daily, the official newspaper of the Central Military Commission, has consistently emphasized that AI cannot replace human commanders. This message has been repeated with increasing frequency, with the number of articles asserting the human commander's final authority over AI-enabled operations rising from 45 in 2018 to 153 in 2025.

## The Role of Human Commanders The newspaper argues that only a human commander can bear the risks and responsibilities of war, and that AI is merely an assistant that can process information and generate options. This justification is based on professional rather than political considerations, with the paper emphasizing that human judgment is essential in military decision-making. The use of AI is presented as a way to support commanders, rather than replace them.

## The Hollowing Out of the Central Military Commission The Central Military Commission, which is responsible for overseeing the Chinese military, has been hollowed out by a series of purges. Five of the six members appointed by General Secretary Xi Jinping in 2022 are no longer in their positions, leaving only Xi and Zhang Shengmin, a career discipline-inspection officer. The chief of the Joint Staff Department, which is responsible for operational planning, has been left vacant for the first time since the Cultural Revolution. This has led to a situation where the commission cannot function as a party committee, with analysts likening it to firing all but one member of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

## The Impact of Vacancies on Military Readiness The vacancies at the apex of the military have had a significant impact on its readiness. With only two members left on the Central Military Commission, the body cannot function effectively. The Political Work Department is being led by a deputy director, and many key leadership positions are being filled on an interim basis. By one estimate, barely one-fifth of the military's key leadership positions are permanently filled, while nearly half are occupied on an interim basis. This has raised concerns about the military's ability to respond to crises and carry out its duties effectively.

The situation has led to speculation about Xi's intentions, with some arguing that he considers the damage to military readiness an acceptable price for political reliability. Others suggest that he views the commission as increasingly ceremonial, with operational authority being channeled through him and his personal staff. Whatever the reason, the prolonged vacancies at the apex of the military appear to be acceptable to Xi, and have become a sustained condition rather than an institutional crisis.