(PatriotsUnited.org) – China claims its military now possesses robot dogs kitted out with machine guns.
These bizarre new weapons were unveiled during Beijing’s 15-day “Golden Dragon” drill with Cambodian troops last week. The exercise, held in central Kampong Chhnang Province and off the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province, included more than 2,000 troops, 69 armored vehicles, 14 warships and a pair of helicopters. While the deadly robotic canines were armed with automatic rifles they did not fire any shots during the exercises. The exercise comes amid soaring tensions between China and Taiwan and its Western allies. Just this week Chinese authorities issued a veiled jab at the United States, implying it was using submarine cables to spy on its military capabilities.
Beijing says the joint drills were an attempt to ramp-up its anti-terrorism abilities, with the robot dogs forming part of its new strategies. However, the introduction of these new weapons has prompted a slew of new concerns over “killer robots.” Autonomous weapons could pose major ethical and technological hurdles, with countless experts urging a global ban, warning that they could turn against civilians.
Concerns about China’s military schemes continue to mount among the U.S. and its partners. The Cambodia-based Ream naval headquarters was recently renovated with Chinese backing after US-funded facilities were dismantled. There are worries this base could provide a key strategic outpost for China close to the South China Sea within which Beijing has disputes with its neighbors.
Despite the slew of worries over robot animals used in military conflict, the U.S. is also ramping up its investment in similar technologies, arguing that possible benefits, including reducing human casualties, outweigh the risks. Battlefields continue to evolve alongside civilian technology, and the possible deployment of robot animals signal just how quickly and drastically warfare could change going forward. While these robo-creatures’ current capabilities appear limited, widespread autonomous weaponry could dramatically alter the landscape of warfare, potentially turning technology against its human creators.
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