The focus on advanced technologies has put the two countries into a different kind of arms race. The US Air Force secretary suggested that AI could be decisive in future warfare. On Tuesday, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said China has been effectively modernizing the People's Liberation Army, fielding systems with the intent of challenging US forces, especially its high-value combat assets like carriers and satellites. China has built up its Rocket Force, developing capabilities that put US military assets at military bases and airfields across the Indo-Pacific within striking range. The Air Force secretary said that he doesn't think people who say that AI is "going to determine who's the winner in the next battlefield" are "all that far off."

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Persons: —, Frank Kendall, Kendall, Xi Jinping, Sarah Weinstein, Giancarlo Casem Organizations: US Air Force, Service, Air Force, People's Liberation Army, Microelectronics, National Semiconductor Technology, PLA, Eastern Theater Command, Weibo, Department of Defense, Rocket Force, Navy, DARPA, USAF, Marines Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Ukraine