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China’s Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting
No full textChina’s Use of Armed Coercion, edited by James A. Siebens, examines how China employs military and paramilitary forces to coerce and signal without triggering war, offering valuable insights for policymakers and military strategists. The book analyzes over 200 coercive operations (2000–2021) and highlights China’s ability to frame its actions as defensive while advancing its regional ambitions through intimidation, direct deterrence, and coercion. Case studies, such as sovereignty disputes with the Philippines and India, underscore how China’s military actions are calibrated to avoid outright conflict but maximize psychological and political pressure. The book also explores China’s integration of military and nonmilitary tools across the diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME) spectrum, emphasizing the importance of a holistic understanding of its strategies. Siebens concludes with policy recommendations, urging the United States to bolster allies’ capabilities, enhance maritime awareness, and avoid direct confrontation while countering China’s coercion. This book is an essential resource for understanding China’s strategic goals and for crafting effective U.S. responses to gray zone challenges in an era of escalating competition
Obstacles to Integrating Deterrence
No full textThis article calls for a strategic shift in how the United States addresses today’s security threats—ranging from peer nuclear adversaries to disruptive emerging technologies. Emphasizing that integrated deterrence must extend beyond the military, the authors advocate for a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach. They argue that success hinges on developing a national strategy, designating senior leadership, fostering interagency and allied collaboration, and engaging the public through education. There are considerable challenges, but they are not insurmountable
The South Korea-US Alliance Is Due for an Overhaul
No full textAmerican and South Korean officials often describe the Republic of Korea (ROK)-U.S. alliance as ironclad, with both allies working in lockstep on their combined defense posture. While nice sounding, such truisms will soon be tested.
From the secretary of defense to military commanders in the region, U.S. authorities increasingly characterize Indo-Pacific alliances and U.S. forces stationed on allied territory – like United States Forces Korea (USFK) – as critical to deterring and, if need be, contesting China. However, policymakers across South Korea’s highly partisan political spectrum do not welcome the expansion of USFK’s role beyond deterring and defending against North Korea, nor the increased expectations such a change would invariably place upon Seoul and the alliance.
Given this existing tension, the Trump administration must engage the next South Korean administration, due to come into office on June 4, on several issues, including how to recalibrate USFK’s force posture to cover peninsula deterrence alongside addressing shared regional priorities, evolve the alliance’s combined command structure for Seoul to take a lead role, and align (or at least deconflict) Seoul and Washington’s respective understandings of their mutual defense obligations
Finding Deepfakes: A Tabletop Exercise About AI, Decisionmaking, and Algorithmic Performance
No full textThis article explores a first-of-its-kind tabletop exercise designed to expose U.S. military and national security professionals to the real-world challenges of using AI tools like deepfake detectors in high-stakes decisionmaking. Set in a fictional scenario involving a flawed AI system, participants confronted algorithmic bias, technical uncertainty, and ethical dilemmas, revealing how AI limitations can erode trust in intelligence products. Drawing from student and faculty reflections, the article highlights the importance of preparing future leaders to scrutinize and manage AI performance failures not only as technical bugs but as complex, systemic issues with social and operational consequences. The exercise underscored the need for a more holistic, human-centered approach to AI in defense contexts
Dr. Clint Work on Korea 24 Radio Show
No full textDr. Clint Work, a Research Fellow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for Strategy and Military Power, provided commentary on potential changes in the U.S. force posture on the Korean Peninsula for Korea 24, a daily current affairs show that covers all the biggest stories coming out of South Korea. The episode aired on 10 June 2025. Korea 24 is part of KBS World, one of the major public service media providers in Korea.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/podcasts/1012/thumbnail.jp
China’s Quest for Military Supremacy: A Conversation with Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phil Saunders
No full textIn this episode of the ChinaPower podcast, Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phil Saunders discuss their new book on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA): China’s Quest for Military Supremacy. They begin by explaining the motivations behind their book and the growing demand for a comprehensive resource on the PLA among students, policymakers, and defense practitioners. Dr. Wuthnow then outlines how the PLA has entered a “new era” under Xi Jinping, characterized by greater confidence, structural reforms, and an expanding operational reach. Dr. Saunders then highlights how the PLA is increasingly being used to shape the Indo-Pacific region, citing China’s recent live-fire exercises near Australia and New Zealand as an example of its more assertive posture. Both experts also delve into key challenges facing the PLA, from Xi Jinping’s efforts to tighten party control to persistent corruption and political reliability issues. They also assess how the PLA’s rigid command structure and political indoctrination could undermine effectiveness in a crisis. Finally, the two experts assess the PLA’s progress becoming more joint, its nuclear modernization efforts, and the broader implications for U.S. and regional security. They conclude by discussing their views on how a second Trump administration could impact PLA behavior and China’s strategic calculations.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/podcasts/1005/thumbnail.jp
Chinese Military Diplomacy
No full textChinese military diplomacy serves both strategic and operational goals. The main strategic goals are supporting Chinese foreign policy and shaping the strategic environment; operational goals include supporting People’s Liberation Army (PLA) modernization and collecting intelligence on foreign militaries.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/china-strategic-perspectives/1019/thumbnail.jp
Being Believed: Persuasion and the Narrative in Military Operations
No full textThis article examines the vital role of persuasive narratives in modern military operations, highlighting their power to shape perceptions, influence behavior, and achieve strategic objectives across the competition continuum. Narratives are described as unifying stories that provide context, coherence, and clarity to military actions, ensuring alignment between words and deeds while promoting credibility and unity of effort.
The article also explores the key elements of effective narratives—setting, characters, plot, and moral—and identifies factors that enhance their persuasiveness. These include emotional appeal, simplicity, consistency with audience values, relatable characters, trust in the narrator, and resonance with cultural and historical contexts.
Military planners can develop cohesive, impactful narratives that align tactical actions with strategic objectives, enabling success in today’s complex and dynamic information environments
It’s the Chain That Broke It: The Strategic Supply Chains Underpinning National Security
No full textStrategic supply chain vulnerabilities threaten the Department of Defense’s (DOD) ability to maintain readiness and protect national security. Global supply chains, often dependent on multiple subcontractor tiers, are highly prone to disruptions from geopolitical events, foreign interference, cybersecurity risks, and shortages of critical materials, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and in delays like those affecting F-35 production. To address these challenges, the DOD must adopt strategic supply chains as a core concept in its doctrine, emphasizing continuous risk assessment and safeguards like multisourcing, supply chain nerve centers, and contingency planning. Updating key policies and doctrines, such as Joint Publications 4-0 and 5-0, would embed strategic thinking across acquisition, logistics, and sustainment efforts. By institutionalizing supply chain risk management, the DOD can improve coordination, hold contractors accountable, and better prepare to sustain operations in an increasingly unpredictable global environment
The Future of Stealth Military Doctrine
No full textIn this article, Theodoros G. Kostis examines the evolution and future trajectory of stealth technology in military operations. Traditionally, stealth doctrine has focused on reducing radar cross-section (RCS) to evade detection, as seen in fifth-generation aircraft like the F-22 and F-35. However, these platforms face limitations against modern integrated air defense systems. To address this, future stealth strategies will integrate artificial intelligence (AI), swarm tactics, and miniaturization of platforms such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones. Kostis proposes the SiVSMD (Stand-In Variable Speed Multiple-Domain) Offensive Concept, which uses AI-driven, small, flexible platforms to penetrate heavily defended areas with enhanced obfuscation and surprise. These autonomous systems will perform deep-penetration missions while adapting speed and tactics in real-time, increasing survivability and reducing operational costs. The shift prioritizes security through obfuscation over speed, ensuring stealth\u27s continued relevance in multidomain operations