CSIS: China Is Adapting Its Military for Future Warfare, Drawing Lessons From Ukraine

China is conducting an extensive analysis of the war in Ukraine to prepare its military for future conflicts.

This is according to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The researchers analyzed more than 90 verified Chinese sources published between July 2022 and August 2026.

China views the Russia-Ukraine war as a ‘living textbook’ and considers 2024 the “first year of global drone warfare.”

Chinese experts document new battlefield tactics within four months, but integrating them into military doctrine and practice takes at least a year.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is studying the war primarily from the perspective of a potential target, paying particular attention to defense.

Chinese analysts are most interested in Ukraine’s naval drone attacks and strikes on Russian airbases.

In particular, following Operation Spiderweb, which targeted Russian bombers in June 2025, the Chinese military conducted exercises to counter similar infiltrations just four and a half months later.

China is also studying the use of fiber-optic FPV drones and electronic warfare systems, incorporating them into its own military exercises.

To apply these lessons, the PLA has stepped up reforms to its military education system and established new specialized universities.

According to CSIS, China’s defense industry is already showcasing new weapons developed based on lessons from Ukraine, including laser and microwave systems designed to counter drones.

However, analysts note that China’s main limitations remain its lack of real combat experience and its rigid, centralized command structure.