unrestricted warfare

Chinas master plan to destroy America,

the book, "Unrestricted Warfare" by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, explores strategies for unconventional warfare, the subtitle "China's Master Plan to Destroy America" is a Western interpretation, not the original title.

The book should be understood in the context of when it was written (1999) and China's strategic concerns. It doesn't necessarily encourage full-scale war but explores a variety of possible conflicts.

I would liken Unrestricted Warfare to a modern-day Art of War (Tsun Zhu), they share similar principles when it comes to warfare, however they are both subjected to the period they were written.

Sun Tzu's work comes from a time of physical battlefields and clashing armies. Unrestricted Warfare discusses a more modern landscape of warfare, shaped by technology and globalization.

Both texts emphasise on the importance of adaptability and being ready for unconventional attacks by unconventional attackers, while also being unconventional yourself. Whether that’s deceiving media or using psychological tactics on the battle field.

its important to remember war and cyberwar is an ever-evolving landscape, whats relevant today, may be useless tomorrow.

summary

Colonels Qiao and Wang argued war is no longer about defeating enemies on the battlefield. Instead, it's a fight anywhere, anytime, using any method possible - military, economic, cultural, or even legal.

This "unrestricted warfare" blurs the lines between soldiers and civilians, creating countless new battlefields. Their vision goes beyond traditional warfare, suggesting tactics like financial assassinations and media manipulation. In their view, there are no rules in this new era of war

"Unrestricted Warfare" directly confronted the dominant Western military views. Coming just eight years after the short, high-tech Gulf War, the book argued against the West's confidence in swift victories through overwhelming technology. Instead, Qiao and Wang proposed a more multifaceted and unpredictable approach to warfare.

Qiao and Wang envisioned a shift in warfare. They saw traditional battlefields fading away, replaced by a war that covers every part of society. From the economy to culture, no aspect would be immune to attack. This "unrestricted warfare" would target entire societies, potentially bypassing traditional military clashes altogether.

is china going to destroy America?

it’s written from the perspective of Chinese military officers Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, who see themselves potentially facing America’s military. The book explores ideas of what China could do to overcome this disadvantage.

remember that this is a Western interpretation, that almost paints it as a China vs. America situation when really its a framework for unconventional warfare, not a specific plan to destroy any nation.

In the late 1990’s, America is throwing funding into developing destructive weapons, how can other countries compete against a force like this?

“the B-2 [bomber] is some three times more expensive than an equivalent weight of gold."

you cant fight against America the conventional way, what could you do?

landscape of war

Technological advancements and globalization create new frontiers for conflict. Battle isn't just a physical state anymore. I like that this book is ahead of it’s time and predicts the evolution of warfare, as attacks become more advanced, we need to advance our defenses. If we view Unrestricted Warfare as it’s own framework we are left with new battlefields to protect or attack.

Economic warfare- taking control of a countries economy

information/cyber warfare- accessing classified information

psychological warfare- weakening resolve

lawfare- taking advantage of legal loopholes

exploiting weaknesses

Unrestricted warfare emphasises on taking advantage of weaknesses that may not be conventional

public opinion/media manipulation- taking advantage of the public opinion to undermine an enemy support.

undermining social fabric- whether its cultural, political, or religious. this can include supporting rebel groups.

critical infrastructure- power grids, communication systems, services such as hospitals or clinics.

Gulf war

The Gulf War was the most recent turning point in war since this book was written. Many ideas are based on how the West was overconfident in their weaponry and armed forces.

the US-led coalition against Iraq served as an example of overconfidence for the authors. They saw the West, particularly the US, becoming overconfident in its advanced weaponry and neglecting alternative strategies.

It argues that the Gulf War's success was a result of specific circumstances, not a guaranteed outcome for all future conflicts. Qiao and Wang believed that relying solely on high-tech weaponry wouldn't be effective against a more prepared or unconventional enemy.

conclusion

Despite being written in 1999, a time before widespread internet access and massive cyber dependence, "Unrestricted Warfare" by Qiao and Wang remains relevant. A lot has changed since it was written the US has fought wars in Iraq and Afganistan, where ever evolving threats are prominent. The book's ideas need to be considered in the context of today's interconnected world, where cyberattacks pose a significant threat.