http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471504574439800856344752.html By DEAN CHENG The Wall Street Journal OPINION ASIA SEPTEMBER 28, 2009, Perhaps the most prominent event marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China will be a massive parade showcasing the People's Liberation Army's newest technologies. Chinese and Western reports indicate some 52 weapons will be unveiled, including intercontinental and medium-range ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, long-range cruise missiles and the domestically produced J-10 fighter plane. In some respects the big guns will be a distraction. The lower-profile command, control and communications systems, such as airborne early-warning and control aircraft and satellite-communications devices, more accurately reflect the comprehensive challenge of China's expanding military capabilities. These systems might not look that special while in a parade, but they evince the increasing sophistication of China's strategic thinking and technology. China isn't aiming to match the United States weapon-for-weapon. Instead, China is pursuing an "asymmetric" approach. It is a view of future warfare, expounded in PLA analyses, that focuses more on enabling the PLA to gather, transmit and exploit information while denying an opponent that same ability. China's knowledge of how to use its newly acquired advanced systems to counter more efficiently American strengths poses the biggest challenge. Space systems are crucial to this effort. Not only do they occupy the "high ground" essential for garnering information superiority, but they have been a key part of the American way of war.as evidenced in Kuwait, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Less noticeable, but arguably even more important and worrisome, is a coherent doctrine and improved training regimens. PLA training efforts also include extensive exercising of command-and-control capabilities, employing forces that cross military region boundaries, and "conducting training in complex electromagnetic environments," a reference to both electronic warfare and cyberwarfare. [...] ________________________________________ Did a friend send you this? From now on, be the first to find out! Subscribe to InfoSec News http://www.infosecnews.orgReceived on Wed Sep 30 2009 - 01:20:00 PDT
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