China

Renewable Energy in China’s Cross Hairs

Riley.C.Murray — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 09:19:26 +0000

Renewable Energy in China’s Cross Hairs Riley.C.Murray Wed, 11/10/2021 - 4:19am

Beijing uses five-year plans as guides to support its intelligence collection efforts, particularly cyber espionage campaigns that can be executed against several targets across the globe. Already Chinese operations against renewable energy organizations have provided competitive advantage to Chinese companies who were able to win contracts and help bankrupt at least two foreign competitors.

The CIA in Tibet, 1957 -1969

Riley.C.Murray — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 07:50:28 +0000

The CIA in Tibet, 1957 -1969 Riley.C.Murray Tue, 11/09/2021 - 2:50am

As tensions rise between mainland China and Taiwan once again, it is worth remembering a vic-tim of China’s previous expansionist actions. Tibet, labeled as “the orphan of the Cold War,” has repeatedly been forgotten on the world stage since its annexation in 1950. Similarly forgotten are the United States’ contributions to the Tibetan resistance against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Countering China’s Gray Zone Strategy

Riley.C.Murray — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 07:43:36 +0000

Countering China’s Gray Zone Strategy Riley.C.Murray Sun, 10/10/2021 - 3:43am

China’s gray zone activities grind remorseless on but in so doing are creating an opposing pushback. As is customary, the paradoxical nature of war applies in that those impacted by a damaging strategy will over time devise optimized countermoves.

The Battle of the World’s Most Advanced Microchips

Riley.C.Murray — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:41:14 +0000

The Battle of the World’s Most Advanced Microchips Riley.C.Murray Tue, 09/28/2021 - 5:41am

Geopolitics determines the type of cell phone you carry, the car you drive, and the computer you use. The all-consuming power of nation-state actor rivalries in the international arena shapes the structural paradigm that drives trade and politics. This is the invisible hand of the global economy. And so it goes with China, microprocessors, and American national security.

Evolution of China’s Cyber Threat

Riley.C.Murray — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:21:50 +0000

Evolution of China’s Cyber Threat

In 1989, a team of American analysts presented an argument that the next generation of war would have blurred lines between war and politics, and civilians and combatants. This has become increasingly true as corporations now have major stakes in global conflict and are able to influence outcomes of global politics and war. The Russo-Georgian War further blurred those lines when the Georgian government transferred Internet capabilities that were under attack to TSHost servers in the United States. Private cybersecurity firms and non-state sponsored hackers can influence diplomacy on a global scale due to the deep penetration of the internet into the military, critical infrastructure, and everyday society. This penetration has increased the effectiveness of information warfare and cyber espionage.

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U.S. Strategy and Foreign Policy throughout the Balkans

Riley.C.Murray — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:15:28 +0000

U.S. Strategy and Foreign Policy throughout the Balkans Riley.C.Murray Thu, 09/23/2021 - 5:15am

With the election of a new U.S. president comes a new foreign policy strategy. While the U.S. continues to manage the recent evacuation of forces and allies from Afghanistan, monitors the volatile situation between Israel and Hamas, and carefully listens to North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric, it must not lose focus on Russia and China. At a time when both countries continue to expand their presence in eastern Europe, it becomes evident that the U.S. must have a focused strategy within the Balkans. The recent build-up of Russian forces along the Ukrainian border in April 2021 reinforces the idea that Russia will continue to destabilize the region while China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has found its way into eastern Europe, specifically to the Balkan countries. China’s dangerous lending practices and infrastructure projects can put Balkan countries at increased risk and provide China a backdoor into Europe. The U.S. benefits from a strong E.U. and NATO as well as sustainable stability throughout Europe. Targeted support for European allies is a strong incentive for U.S. involvement in the region as the U.S. can benefit from increased stability and stronger trading partners. This was highlighted by President Biden’s recent signing of an Executive Order on June 8, 2021, that provided additional sanction authority, efforts to combat corruption, and promote accountability within the Balkans and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Lastly, the Balkans present a unique challenge for western allies as this region simultaneously displays global competition from both Russia and China, which will require a comprehensive approach to counter their expansion effectively.

Chinese Mercenaries in Africa

Riley.C.Murray — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 19:03:54 +0000

Chinese Mercenaries in Africa Riley.C.Murray Sat, 06/05/2021 - 3:03pm

Chinese investments in Africa have multiplied in recent years, especially since the 2013 launch of the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). But China has realized that it is a mistake to entrust security and development to trade alone. A new generation of Chinese private security companies sees the BRI as an opportunity for lucrative contracts and international expansion, but its shortcomings are evident on the ground. Currently, the few properly certified Chinese private security companies in Africa appear to be operating semi-autonomously, oriented towards niche markets. And so far not as an extension of the state, but these companies may be the tool Beijing needs to prevent the defense of its citizens and assets from forcing it into military interventions that, for the time being, remain beyond its reach.

Coronavirus Crisis: U.S.-China Media War Couldn’t Come at a Worse Time

SWJED — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 10:05:07 +0000

Coronavirus Crisis: U.S.-China Media War Couldn’t Come at a Worse Time SWJED Wed, 03/25/2020 - 6:05am

China’s move to expel U.S. journalists from the country last week comes at a time of great need for accurate information about COVID-19. The move is part of a broader Chinese effort to control the global narrative about the pandemic and is especially dangerous right now—as cracking down on foreign media further undermines trust in China’s ability to respond to the pandemic with transparency.

The Next Warm War: How History’s Anti-Access/Area Denial Campaigns Inform the Future of War

SWJED — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 05:26:31 +0000

The Next Warm War: How History’s Anti-Access/Area Denial Campaigns Inform the Future of War SWJED Tue, 01/14/2020 - 12:26am

The anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) campaign underway in the South China Sea is but one example of A2/AD being employed as a military strategy throughout history. A2/AD is defined as a strategy designed to bar an adversary’s entry to or occupation of a theater of operations and is most effectively utilized by a military when confronting a stronger adversary. A2/AD has become one of the most talked about issues in military policy circles today, but is by no means a new concept: the Yom Kippur War, the Cold War, and even the Civil War saw one (or both) sides incorporating the ideas of A2/AD.

Avoiding War in the Arctic: A Two-Step Solution

SWJED — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 15:19:10 +0000

Avoiding War in the Arctic: A Two-Step Solution SWJED Fri, 01/10/2020 - 10:19am

To maintain peace in the Arctic, the United States should promote international trade in the Arctic, especially with Russia while simultaneously incentivizing growth in the American Arctic. The biggest threat to peace in the Arctic is not Russian military buildup, nor Chinese investment, but Sino-Russian cooperation and coordination in the Arctic and across the Eurasian continent.