A senior official at one of China's top military universities has called for stronger efforts in emerging and frontier technologies to secure breakthroughs in core technologies and "fundamentally reverse dependence on others".

Zhang Zhan, political commissar of the National University of Defense Technology, made the remarks in an article published on Wednesday in Study Times, a newspaper administered by the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

He said China should integrate high-quality innovation resources and strengths to achieve that goal, noting that the country is facing a severe and complex innovation environment and security situation in high-tech fields.

Zhang said China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) outlines the need to accelerate the building of strategic capabilities in emerging fields and promote the efficient integration and mutual reinforcement of new quality productive forces and new quality combat capabilities.

He said this is a major step to "address complex security threats and secure national strategic advantages", and an important guarantee for achieving the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army on schedule.

A new round of technological and military revolutions is accelerating worldwide, Zhang said, noting that emerging technologies such as quantum information and bio-interdisciplinary technologies are making breakthroughs in multiple areas, driving the reorganization of global resources, the reshaping of economic structures and changes in the military landscape.

"We must firmly seize the opportunity, build on the momentum, coordinate and allocate resources from all sides, and advance deployment and development in emerging fields," he said.

The senior official called for the vigorous development of new industries, forms of business, models and capabilities in frontier and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum information, aerospace science and technology, and deep-earth and deep-sea exploration, in order to continuously strengthen the country's economic and defense capabilities.

Zhang also highlighted the importance of supplying high-end talent, calling for integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation in emerging fields.

He suggested optimizing disciplines and talent training models in line with scientific and technological innovation, industrial development and national strategic needs in emerging fields.

China should accelerate the development of basic, emerging and interdisciplinary disciplines in key areas such as integrated circuits, AI, new energy and new materials, he said.

He also encouraged enterprises to increase investment in basic research in emerging fields and improve their participation and influence in major scientific and technological innovation decision-making for the country and the military.

Separately, the Chinese navy has recently commissioned several types of new warplanes that can be integrated into the combat system of aircraft carrier groups, drawing widespread attention on Chinese social media.

The aircraft include stealth carrier-based fighter jets, multipurpose catapult-launched carrier-based fighter jets, fixed-wing carrier-based early warning aircraft, fixed-wing electronic warfare aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters.

Defense Ministry spokesman Jiang Bin said at an online news briefing on Saturday that the new aircraft are an important part of building systematic combat capabilities for aircraft carrier groups and a major achievement in the Chinese navy's accelerated transformation.

Since entering the new era, the modernization of the Chinese navy has advanced steadily and rapidly, he said.

From the air to underwater, and from near seas to far seas, various weapons platforms have continued to improve in type and function, providing stronger support for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, Jiang said.

"Whether in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, international humanitarian rescue, or the hospital ships' Mission Harmony operations, practice has proved that a strong Chinese navy is always an anchor of peace and a bridge of cooperation for the world," he said.

China is ready to work with the navies of other countries to make new and greater contributions to maritime security and world peace, Jiang added.

jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn