04/12/07
DEFENSE NEWS
China’s Anti-Access Strategies Could Win War With U.S.
By WENDELL MINNICK, TAIPEI
Rand’s latest paper on Chinese anti-access strategies paints a dark picture for any U.S. military attempt to defend Taiwan during a crisis. China is preparing to fight a “local war under high-technology conditions,” the authors warn.
“Entering the Dragon’s Lair: Chinese Antiaccess Strategies and Their Implications for the United States” gives a detailed overview of likely Chinese efforts to deny U.S. military responsiveness during a crisis, using a combination of “soft-kill” and “hard-kill” tactics. Soft-kill methods include cyber warfare attacks and electronic jamming. Hard-kill tactics includes destroying C4ISR networks and using electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons, anti-satellite weapons and other kinetic and directed-energy weapons.
Attacks on U.S. air bases in the region and direct attacks on U.S. aircraft carriers would help slow U.S. responsiveness and shake confidence among allies in the region, the report said.
Released March 29, the report was written by Roger Cliff, Mark Burles, Michael Chase, Derek Eaton and Keven Pollpeter.
Rand garnered much of its information directly from Chinese military doctrinal writings, including books on military doctrine, articles from military journals and reports from Chinese newspapers.
Much of what the report says is not new. However, the report includes ways in which the U.S. military can protect assets. These include:
• Strengthening passive defenses at air bases.
• Deploying more air and missile defenses near critical facilities.
• Preparing for Chinese special operations’ ground attacks.
• Quickly moving naval vessels out of port before an attack begins.
• Shoring up protection of C4ISR networks.
• Improving electronic protection against EMP weapons and high-altitude nuclear detonations.
