BEIJING - China on Thursday implemented a revised national defense mobilization law that stipulates procedures for transitions from peacetime to wartime, newly covering civilian cutting-edge technologies believed to include drones and artificial intelligence, possibly with an eye on Taiwan.
The law, which originally took effect in 2010, allows the state to control civilian infrastructure and other resources for military purposes when stockpiled supplies fail to meet demand.
The legislation obligates organizations and individuals to respond to the authorities' orders, with foreign private enterprises also believed to be subject to them.
The first revision in 16 years added data and software to the list of emergency supplies that need to be stockpiled, in addition to facilities and materials.
A new clause says Chinese authorities will check on military supply chains in peacetime and enhance their resilience.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has not ruled out the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
The law revision created concern that it would lower the threshold for Beijing to prepare for war. But Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin told a press conference in late September the legislation was no different from similar defense mobilization laws implemented in many other countries, warning against overinterpretation.
