By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
In a display of military prowess, the Chinese armed forces unveiled their latest addition to the battlefield – robotic “Dogs of War” – during their largest-ever joint exercises with Cambodian forces. This development has raised eyebrows in the United States, as China continues to expand its influence in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia, a long-time ally of China, has been the recipient of substantial Chinese investments. The U.S. is increasingly apprehensive about China’s intentions to leverage a Cambodian naval base, currently undergoing upgrades, to broaden its regional influence.
The joint military exercises, known as the Golden Dragon, are being conducted at a secluded training center in central Kampong Chhnang province and off the coast of Preah Sihanouk province. The 15-day operation involves over 2,000 troops, including 760 from the Chinese military, 14 warships (three of which are Chinese), two helicopters, and 69 armored vehicles and tanks. The exercises encompass live-fire drills, anti-terrorism operations, and humanitarian rescue missions.
The Chinese military’s robotic dogs, equipped with automatic rifles, were the highlight of the Golden Dragon exercises. These remote-controlled quadrupeds are designed for various applications, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and potentially, remote engagement. The demonstration of these ‘robodogs’ was limited to their mobility capabilities, with their firing skills kept under wraps. However, the mere presence of these machines on the battlefield signifies a new era in warfare, where autonomous systems could potentially take center stage.
Defense Innovator Builds First-of-its-Kind Hypersonic Drone
The Ream naval base, located near the Cambodian city of Sihanoukville, has been a point of contention. The U.S. believes that Ream could provide China with a strategic advantage in the Gulf of Thailand, near the contested South China Sea, which China claims in large part. Cambodian officials, however, denied last year that the newly constructed 363-meter pier at Ream was designed to accommodate aircraft carriers.
Interestingly, the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) has also been testing similar technology. The US version of the ‘robot dogs’, developed by Ghost Robotics, are equipped with gun systems from defense tech company Onyx Industries.
These quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles (Q-UGVs), like their Chinese counterparts, are being evaluated for various applications, including reconnaissance and surveillance. However, the US models feature an AI-enabled digital imaging system that can automatically detect and track potential targets. Despite these advancements, the US maintains a human-in-the-loop control for fire decisions, ensuring that the system cannot decide to fire autonomously. This highlights a crucial ethical consideration in the deployment of autonomous weapons.
The emergence of robotic ‘dogs of war’ raises several questions about the future of warfare. On one hand, these machines could potentially reduce human casualties in ground offensives and advance military operations. On the other hand, the ethical implications of autonomous weapons cannot be ignored.
The use of AI in warfare necessitates a careful balance between technological advancement and ethical considerations. As nations continue to explore the potential of these robotic ‘dogs of war’, it is crucial to establish clear guidelines and regulations to ensure responsible use of this technology.
A third Chinese warship arrived in Sihanoukville earlier this week, carrying troops and materials for the exercises. This follows a three-day visit by China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, to Cambodia in April, aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
