China's State-Directed Pursuit of AI Dominance Unveiled in Joint Report

Unveiling China's Ambitious AI Objectives

In a collaborative report released on May 29, 2025, Strider Technologies and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) revealed the extensive efforts by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to secure a formidable and enduring lead in artificial intelligence (AI). The report delineates a well-orchestrated campaign that intertwines economic growth, military modernization, and international engagement, demonstrating how China seeks to dominate the global AI landscape.

Key Findings from the Report

The comprehensive study titled "China's AI Infrastructure Surge: How PRC Data Centers and AI Models Bridge Military Ambitions and Global Connections," uncovers the ambitious infrastructure developments in China's AI sector. It documents over 250 specialized AI data centers developed across the nation, aimed at ensuring the computational capacity necessary for advanced AI operations, well ahead of the 2025 goals set by the Chinese government.

Strategic Warning for the U.S.

Greg Levesque, CEO of Strider, emphasized the report's significance, interpreting it as a strategic alert to the United States and its allies. He stated, "The Chinese Communist Party is executing a national campaign aimed at achieving AI superiority, which is pivotal to their broader geopolitical strategy. This includes not only enhancing national capabilities but reshaping global power dynamics and setting future standards for AI technology."

A National Initiative of Vast Scale

Strider and SCSP's findings reveal that China's AI ambitions are not merely national advancements but part of a coordinated effort with military intentions. The report lists 856 organizations engaged in constructing these AI data centers, with numerous links to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and entities currently sanctioned by the United States. This connection hints at a deliberate military orientation behind the country's AI infrastructure initiatives.

Expedited Growth in AI Data Centers

The report highlights a rapid increase in the number of operational AI data centers. Over half of the 207 identified centers are already functional, with the number of announced and operational facilities rising by over 100% from 2023 to 2024. This acceleration underscores China’s commitment to scaling AI technology swiftly and efficiently.

External Software Dependencies

A significant observation from the report is the high reliance of PLA-associated data centers on software developed in the United States and allied nations. This dependency underscores the urgent need for targeted export control regulations for critical software tools crucial for AI training and operation.

International Collaboration Concerns

The investigation also revealed current international partnerships involving directly linked organizations, with 28 having collaborated with entities in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Japan since 2017. Alarmingly, 18 of these had also worked with PLA-affiliated research institutions in AI research, raising concerns about inadvertently aiding China's technological advancements

Future Implications of 'Embodied Intelligence'

The exploration into emerging technologies like 'embodied intelligence'—machines that can perceive and interact with their environment in real-time—has been integrated into PLA operations. This integration poses new challenges and implications for surveillance, unmanned systems, and cognitive warfare.

Conclusion

The pivotal findings of this report serve as both an informative account and a strategic warning for the U.S. and its allies regarding the magnitude of China's focused AI efforts. For the United States to remain competitive in an evolving landscape characterized by rapidly advancing AI capabilities, it must prioritize AI infrastructure as a central component of its national security strategy. Strider and SCSP's collaboration illuminates a crucial facet of a global competition that will likely define international relations in the years to come.

For access to the full report, it is available via Strider Technologies.