Article: Contrasting China's and Russia's Influence Operations
I wrote another piece for War on the Rocks appearing January 16, 2018. The article presents my reflections on the differences between China’s and Russia’s influence operations. In a series of talks and conference calls, I was asked repeatedly about the differences in their approaches. I finally sat down and re-read some of classics on Soviet operations. The next week I spent thinking and writing. To read the result, click here.
Key Takeaways:
- Beijing and Moscow both approach influence operations as a normal activity
- China’s approach is strategically patient; Russia’s approach is proactive
- China’s intelligence services play a secondary role compared to their Russian counterparts
- China’s operations are human- or relationship-centric, while the Russians are operations- or effects-centric
Related Content
- “China’s ‘Three Warfares’ in Perspective,” War on the Rocks, January 30, 2018
- “Laws on Foreign Influence Just the Beginning in Fight Against Chinese Coercion,” Sydney Morning Herald, December 7, 2017
Suggested Readings
- Ladislav Bittman, The KGB and Soviet Disinformation: An Insider’s View (Pergamon Press, 1985).
- Kevin N. McCauley, Russian Influence Campaigns against the West: From the Cold War to Putin (CreateSpace, 2016).
- Richard H. Schultz and Roy Godson, Dezinformatsia: Active Measures in Soviet Strategy (Pergamon-Brassey’s, 1984).