Xi Jinping and the New Frontier of Defense: Awards for Military Scientific Excellence

Introduction

President Xi Jinping, in his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), signed an order promulgating new regulations regarding military scientific research awards. These new regulations, which will take effect on July 1, 2025, are a crucial part of China's strategy to strengthen the military through science and technology. The primary goal is to accelerate advances in defense technology, with an emphasis on combat effectiveness as the sole yardstick. The regulations aim to enhance the vitality of innovation in military research, refine award nomination and review procedures, and strengthen oversight on discipline and confidentiality. These measures are expected to provide high-quality scientific support for building a strong military in the new era.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission

The New Regulations on Military Scientific Research Awards

President Xi Jinping, in his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), signed an order promulgating regulations governing military scientific research awards. This act was initialed on May 29, 2025, and the new regulations will officially take effect on July 1, 2025. The document is specifically identified as the "Military Scientific Research Award Regulations" or "Military Scientific Research Incentive Regulations." The promulgation of these regulations marks a significant step in the institutionalization of incentives for military innovation in China, reflecting a deep commitment to technological self-sufficiency in the defense sector.

Strategic Imperative: Strengthening the Armed Forces Through Science and Technology

China has long pursued a national strategy of "strengthening the armed forces through science and technology." This strategy is not a new concept, but it has received renewed emphasis under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, being a key pillar of China's military modernization goals. The ambition is to transform the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a world-class fighting force by mid-century.

The main objectives of these new regulations are twofold: first, to concretely implement the strategy of strengthening the armed forces through science and technology. This indicates a shift from mere statements of intent to tangible policy mechanisms. Second, the regulations aim to regulate the process of military scientific research awards. This suggests a desire for standardization, fairness and efficiency in the recognition and encouragement of scientific contributions.

The direct involvement of President Xi Jinping, as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, in signing this order signals a highly centralized and directive approach to military innovation policy. His signature elevates the importance of these regulations, indicating a clear political will and strategic priority coming directly from the apex of power. It suggests that the state views military scientific progress as a fundamental national security imperative, requiring direct, centralized oversight and leadership, rather than delegating the issue exclusively to lower-level military or scientific bodies. This mode of decision-making aligns with Xi Jinping's broader emphasis on Party control over all aspects of governance, including military development.

Key Provisions and Operational Framework of Regulations

The new regulations establish a structured reward system aligned with national and military strategic objectives. This indicates a formal and systematic approach to recognition and incentives.

The main features of this system include:

• Priority to Combat Effectiveness: The most significant feature is the "priority to combat effectiveness as the sole evaluation parameter." This is a critical directive that ensures that research is directly linked to improving military capabilities and operational readiness. The emphasis on a single yardstick of evaluation indicates a highly pragmatic and utilitarian approach to military scientific research. It is not about scientific discovery for its own sake, but its direct applicability to military power. Excluding other potential criteria such as academic prestige or theoretical novelty as primary drivers for military awards creates a clear strategic directive to focus all military scientific efforts on tangible improvements in operational capabilities, weapon systems, and defense technologies. In this way, regulations directly incentivize researchers to pursue projects with immediate and demonstrable military utility, accelerating the conversion of scientific discoveries into practical military benefits.

• Refined Procedures: The regulations aim to "refine procedures for nominating and reviewing awards." This suggests a focus on fairness, transparency and efficiency in the selection process. 

• Strengthening Oversight: There is an emphasis on "strengthening oversight with regard to discipline and confidentiality." This is critical for military research, as it protects sensitive information and ensures ethical conduct. The emphasis on discipline and confidentiality oversight indicates an increased concern for internal control, protection of intellectual property, and prevention of espionage or unauthorized disclosures within the military scientific research ecosystem. This suggests a response to potential vulnerabilities, such as lax security protocols or internal leaks. Thus, there is a systemic effort not only to incentivize innovation, but also to protect the fruits of that innovation. This reflects a comprehensive approach to managing military R&D, where security and control are as vital as creativity and discovery.

Projected Impact on Military Innovation and Defense Capabilities.

The regulations are expected to "increase the vitality of innovation in military research." A clear and structured award system should motivate researchers, institutions and teams to pursue pioneering work, stimulating competition and excellence within the military scientific community.

In addition, the regulations aim to "accelerate breakthroughs in defense technology." This indicates a direct link between the reward system and the speed with which new military technologies are developed and deployed. Rapid technological advancement is of crucial strategic importance in modern warfare and defense.

It also aims to "provide high-quality scientific support for the cause of building a strong military in the new era." This underscores the critical role of science in the military force, as a strong science base is essential for maintaining a quality edge and adapting to evolving security challenges.

Although available information does not explicitly mention the "military-civilian fusion" (MCF) strategy, the all-encompassing nature of these regulations, aimed at "strengthening the armed forces through science and technology" , strongly suggests that this reward system could serve as a powerful incentive to attract broader national scientific and technological resources, including those from civilian sectors, to military applications. China has a well-documented and ambitious MCF strategy that seeks to integrate civilian and military technology development to harness the entire national innovation system for defense purposes. A structured award system, especially one that prioritizes combat effectiveness, provides a tangible mechanism for incentivizing researchers and institutions (both military and potentially civilian, under the MCF) to contribute directly to defense needs. Although formally the regulations are for military research, their existence creates a strong pull factor for talent and resources within the broader national science and technology ecosystem. This makes the regulations a key policy tool within the broader MCF strategy, designed to streamline the flow of innovation from all sources to military applications.

Directive on the protection of military industrial facilities

Xi Jinping, together with Premier Li Qiang, also signed regulations regarding the "protection of important military industrial facilities." This regulation, which will take effect on Sept. 15, 2025, focuses on the physical security and operational integrity of sites involved in military production, testing and storage (e.g., factories, test sites, communication stations, data centers). It imposes security measures such as the establishment of protection zones and prohibits unauthorized access, photography or recording. This is a physical security and infrastructure protection directive, completely separate from the encouragement of scientific research.