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China Readies World’s 1st AI-Enabled Water Canon That It Claims Can Revolutionize Non-Lethal Combat

In a significant development with potential ramifications for the volatile South China Sea (SCS) region, Chinese researchers claimed to have developed the world’s first “smart” water cannon, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology. 

Hong Kong-based SCMP claimed that the weapon, developed by the Wuhan Marine Electric Propulsion Device Research Institute, aims to revolutionize non-lethal combat strategies in maritime disputes.

The SCS has long been a focal point of tension, with multiple nations laying overlapping claims to its waters. China, in particular, has been assertive in its claims, often employing various means to solidify its control over the region. 

Now, with the development of the AI-powered water cannon, Beijing appears poised to further bolster its maritime claims.

Traditional water cannons, while powerful, have been plagued by issues of accuracy, particularly in adverse sea conditions. However, the newly developed smart water cannon seeks to overcome these challenges by harnessing the capabilities of AI and advanced sensors.

Equipped with a photoelectric camera and motion sensors, the smart water cannon can automatically identify targets and adjust their power and trajectory in real-time. This feature allows the weapon to maintain precision even in rough seas, where conventional cannons often struggle to hit their mark.

In shooting experiments conducted by the Chinese research team, the smart water cannon demonstrated remarkable accuracy, with an error margin of only two meters, even under conditions of high winds and four-meter waves. 

This represents a significant improvement of 33 to 54 percent compared to traditional automatic water cannons.

According to Cheng Bosen, the lead scientist behind the project and a prominent figure at the Wuhan Marine Electric Propulsion Device Research Institute, the AI-driven water cannon represents a significant leap forward in maritime technology. 

With China viewing non-lethal weapons as vital tools in asserting control over disputed waters, the potential deployment of such smart water cannons could solidify its presence in disputed waters.

Nonetheless, the development of AI-enabled weapons, capable of precise targeting even in adverse conditions, also raises questions about the risk of accidents or unintended escalations in an already volatile region.

China’s Aggressive Water Cannon Tactics

Despite a 2016 international court ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, citing the illegitimacy of its nine-dash line (the nine-dash line, also referred to as the eleven-dash line by Taiwan, is a set of line segments on various maps that accompanied the claims of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China in the South China Sea), Beijing has persistently ignored the verdict, forging ahead with the construction of artificial islands and military installations in disputed waters. 

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan contest China’s claims, which has caused recurrent stand-offs and confrontations.

In a troubling pattern observed over recent months, the Philippine Navy has faced repeated assaults from Chinese coast guard vessels equipped with water cannons. 

These clashes have resulted in damage to Philippine naval vessels, with one particularly alarming incident involving a shattered cockpit windscreen and injuries to personnel. 

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