Article: China's 'Three Warfares' in Perspective
I wrote another piece for War on the Rocks appearing January 30, 2018. The article places the People’s Liberation Army’s approach to information/influence operations in the context of the Chinese Communist Party. Western analysts, especially those focused on the PLA, need to focus more on understanding the Party. To read, click here.
Key Takeaways:
- To understand China’s influence operations, start with the Party, not the PLA
- The ‘Three Warfares’ are the PLA’s contribution to the Party’s effort to build political power
- PLA political warfare capabilities include military operations, propaganda, and intelligence/influence networksÂ
- Read Party documents!
Related Content
- “Contrasting China’s and Russia’s Influence Operations,” War on the Rocks, January 16, 2018
- “Laws on Foreign Influence Just the Beginning in Fight Against Chinese Coercion,” Sydney Morning Herald, December 7, 2017
Suggested Readings
- Mark Stokes and Russell Hsiao, “The People’s Liberation Army General Political Department: Political Warfare with Chinese Characteristics,” Project 2049 Institute, Occasional Paper, October 14, 2013
- Elsa Kania, “The People’s Liberation Army’s Latest Strategic Thinking about the ‘Three Warfares’,” China Brief, August 22, 2016
- Dean Cheng, “Winning Without Fighting: Chinese Public Opinion Warfare and the Need for a Robust American Response,” Heritage Foundation, Backgrounder No. 2745, November 21, 2012