Artificial intelligence (AI) data centers are playing an increasingly critical role in the control and operation of military drones. They are fundamental to the growing autonomy, efficiency, and intelligence of military drones. These data centers process vast amounts of data to enable real-time decision-making, enhanced navigation, and precision strikes on high-value targets. Artificial intelligence is altering military strategy and tactics by shifting towards more integrated and intelligent multi-domain systems, where drones are an essential component.
The increasing reliance on AI in military drones is also making apparent the need to address ethical and strategic considerations, particularly regarding autonomous weapons systems and potential unintended escalation of conflicts. In the Philippines, how the entry of Chinese AI data centers should be effectively addressed is one of vital and urgent concerns considering its long-standing conflict with China.
In particular, the following areas of concern should be carefully studied and acted upon the soonest possible time: how AI data centers can be used in military drone control; what should be the Philippines’ course of action towards the entry of Chinese AI data centers into its territory; and understanding how the centers fit into the overall Civilian Military Integration strategy of China against the Philippines.
First, how are AI data centers being used in military drone control? The first point to make is that these centers earn their keep by being autonomous operations but still tied up to the overall ploy of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) answering to the Chinese Communist Party. AI algorithms, processed by these powerful data centers, allow drones to fly autonomously, navigate complex environments, identify high-value targets, and respond to threats with minimal human intervention (except for the remote human pilot controlling the drone). (PODCAST: Drone warfare)
The second point is that the AI data centers enable real-time data processing and decision-making. AI systems within data centers analyze vast amounts of data collected by drone sensors (visual, infrared, radar) in real-time. This enables faster decision-making for missions such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat operations.
The third point is that AI data centers allow for enhanced navigation and targeting. AI-driven navigation integrates data from various sensors (Light Detection and Ranging or LIDAR, cameras, radar) to enable autonomous navigation even in GPS-denied environments. AI algorithms also enhance targeting capabilities by identifying high-value targets and hitting them with precision, while aiming to minimize civilian casualties.
The fourth capability is threat identification and response. AI-assisted drones can quickly identify potential threats and consequently adapt their actions, such as dodging missiles or maneuvering to avoid detection.
The fifth capability is swarming and collaborative multi-drone tasking. AI facilitates the coordinated operation of multiple drones, enabling them to work together for enhanced surveillance or synchronized attacks. This improves battlefield awareness and operational readiness.
The sixth capability enabled by AI data centers is adaptive mission planning. AI allows drones to dynamically adjust their mission parameters based on real-time battlefield changes, optimizing routes, resources, and objectives while negating or minimizing risks.
The seventh capability is reduced human risk. By allowing drones to operate autonomously in dangerous environments, AI data centers help reduce the risk to human lives in high-risk military operations.
Second, given our knowledge of the threat, what course of action should the Philippines adopt towards the entry of Chinese AI data centers into its territory? It must be pointed out that the presence of foreign-owned or developed data centers can raise questions and concerns regarding data security and national security.
As of this writing, there already exist Chinese AI data centers within the Philippines and more are coming. The first is Alibaba Cloud which established itself in Manila at the end of 2021. Alibaba supports services like elastic compute, machine learning, and data analytics. The second is Hive Hybrid operated by Beeinfotech PH (a digital infrastructure service provider established in 2020) at Bridgetowne Boulevard and East Drive, Pasig City “which some sources have associated with suspected Chinese spying activities.”
The third is China Huaxin, a Chinese company which recently won a bid to construct data centers for China Telecom / DITO in the Philippines at eleven (11) sites across five (5) regions.
The specific locations of these 11 sites are not detailed in the search results but are distributed across the Philippine archipelago. And fourth is Alibaba, which is reportedly opening a second data center in the Philippines in October 2025. Relative to this, China is a major player in the global drone market with companies like DJI dominating the civilian sector. It also exports military drones with the Middle East and Africa as significant buyers.
China manufactures all types of civilian and military drones (reconnaissance and strike drones, smaller and specialized drones, drone swarms and AI-integration). Again, it must be emphasized that drone warfare is emerging to be the preferred strategy and tactics of future warfighting.
There are those who foresee military drones with tactical nuclear warheads as the alternative to intercontinental ballistic missiles or ICBMs. In the face of these developments, local security stakeholders concerned about national security and sovereignty advocate the strict vetting of Chinese AI data centers in the Philippines including all Chinese manufactures given internet-of-things.
It may not be such a bad idea if a preemptive strike against Chinese AI data centers is adopted by not allowing their entry into Philippine shores for obvious reasons of national security. As the PLA prioritizes strategic weapons of anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) capabilities, maximizing their strengths while exploiting their enemies’ weaknesses, so also should we do the same. No amount of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) “Tatag Kapuluan” will work if Chinese AI data centers are allowed to operate, threatening and undermining the country from within.
And finally, we all should understand how the AI data centers fit into the overall Civilian Military Integration strategy of China against the Philippines or any other country for that matter. In the present time, no other country is like China in terms of how its entire national power is integrated.
China’s Civilian-Military Integration, which came into full swing upon the assumption of Xi Jinping in 2012, is unlike any other. Even the United States under Donald Trump is merely trying to play catch-up to China’s now globally expanded tentacles of power. There is no other to blame for China’s rise but the United States which integrated China into the world economy from Richard Nixon and then ignored China’s growing threat through its Cold War with the USSR. (Also read: Trump tries to mold US military to his image)
With the largest economy and an authoritarian communist party, China is effectively a gigantic command state. And by the audacity upon which it is acting, China appears to think it is ready to take on the world.
If we in the Philippines think the Chinese commercial investments in AI data centers are benign, then we are truly naïve and gullible. If we continue down this path, we have already lost the war as Sun Tzu preached.
Let us learn from leaders like Winston Churchill who was the only European leader with balls and brains enough to see the true designs of Adolf Hitler and his evil empire early on. Or perish under the weight of our own cowardly and treasonous folly.
The Philippines may not be China’s direct target if ever kinetic war erupts. For more logical reasons, it could most certainly be Taiwan within two years. But the Philippines and the US are indirect targets if they come in the way.
Overall, we should understand the mind of China and its strategy which is focused on achieving its territorial claims in the South China Sea through a combination of military force, coercion, “gray zone” tactics, strategic ambiguity, and calculated escalation rather than a full-scale invasion. This approach aims to gradually exert control over disputed areas while minimizing the risk of direct military conflict with the United States. (Also read: Philippines, United States start ‘joint military operations” next year)
Still, we are not the US either. While the US can afford to provoke China with its counter-coercive power, the AFP cannot. But we can contribute our own strength to this partnership by focusing on our legal power – maximizing the effect of the 2016 arbitration ruling as well as our own constitution. And we can begin by denying access to the enemy’s AI data centers. Let us not do a repeat of the Spratly’s and Scarborough Shoal.