Conventional Deterrence in the Age of Autonomous Weapons: A Case Study of China and the US

Abstract

This research study explores how conventional deterrence is changing in the existence of autonomous weapons within modern militaries, through a highlighting lens on the strategic dynamics between China and the US. This study expresses at how the two super-powers substantially investing on AI and autonomous military technologies are changing the deterrence concept and how it influencing their security relations in different regions. The study used a qualitative methodology to examine secondary data from official statements, government official Reports, and academic literature in order to identify developing trends and their possible ramifications. The results of research demonstrate how conventional deterrence frameworks are complicated when these autonomous systems are integrated into military operations, raising the possibility of miscalculation and escalation. The comparison of China's and the US's doctrinal and operational methods, the research offers insights into how each country views its conventional military threats and their resolves in the time of crisis. The study sheds light on how China and the US view and react to these technological advancements by contrasting their doctrinal and operational frameworks within the concept of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). This study also emphasizes the crucial role of artificial intelligence and it will help states to forming their future security patterns, which will help us to improve our knowledge of modern Deterrence in a multipolar world.