Feature: China's new five-year plan reinforces PLA shift to ‘intelligentised' warfare

China's President Xi Jinping (centre) attends the opening of the fourth session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at The Great Hall of People in Beijing in early March 2026. (Getty Images)

China has formally adopted the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP), the country's development blueprint for 2026–30.

The outline – officially titled the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China – was adopted at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). The congress was held in Beijing from 5 to 12 March.

Set to replace the 14th FYP, the new plan intends to accelerate China's military modernisation goals while focusing on social stability and economic growth.

In military terms, the 15th FYP prioritises the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) transition towards 'intelligentised' warfare. In line with this objective, the plan signals an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned and autonomous systems, networked information infrastructure, and emerging technologies.

Recommendations for the FYP were adopted in October 2025 at the fourth plenary session of 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

During the plenary session, the central committee established key guiding principles intended to shape the plan. These include upholding the CPC's overall leadership, advancing high-quality development, strengthening relations between government and industry, prioritising citizens, and balancing progress with security.

On 5 March China's State Council submitted the draft outline of the 15th FYP to the fourth session of the NPC, the country's top legislature, for review.

Alongside the 15th FYP, the fourth annual session of the 14th NPC reviewed China's government work report, 2025 economic development reports, 2026 budget drafts, and other key government policies.

Military goals