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Academics vs. Aliens: Selected Essays on Social Science Research, Defense Education, and the Power of Partnerships
No full textThe book is divided into two sections of student essays that discuss the main goals of the program: the roles of partnership and social science education in PME. Each section is introduced by a reflection from one of our esteemed partners who worked on the project over the past two years. Eleven masters’ students contributed essays informed by their experience that comment on the broader topics of scientific innovation through collaboration, the role of social science research for national security, and how they would like to see PME take creative advantage of programs like Minerva DECUR.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/strategic-monographs/1004/thumbnail.jp
Xi\u27s New Central Military Commission: A War Council for Taiwan?
No full textA key result of the 20th Party Congress was the reappointment of Xi Jinping as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the selection of new CMC members. Some have argued that the new military brass indicates a greater inclination by Xi to use force against Taiwan, but the evidence does not support this view. The new CMC is consistent with the recent past in terms of its internal structure; few of the new members whom Xi has chosen have deep operational expertise on Taiwan, and his new CMC is even less “joint” than the last one in terms of service representation and joint command skills. Rather than designed to lead a war, the new CMC will be charged with pursuing the PLA’s overall modernization, which includes becoming better prepared for future contingencies. The group of CMC advisors could also play a key role in deterring Xi from any temptation to use force if they can speak truth to power
Crossing the Strait: China’s Military Prepares for War with Taiwan
No full textBoth the U.S. and Chinese militaries are increasingly focused on a possible confrontation over Taiwan. China regards the island as an integral part of its territory and is building military capabilities to deter Taiwan independence and compel Taiwan to accept unification. Based on original research by leading international experts, Crossing the Strait: China’s Military Prepares for War with Taiwan explores the political and military context of cross-strait relations, with a focus on understanding the Chinese decision calculus about when and how to use force, the capabilities the People’s Liberation Army would bring to the fight, and what Taiwan can do to defend itself.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/books-and-book-chapters/1001/thumbnail.jp
Dangerous Alliances: Russia’s Strategic Inroads in Latin America
No full textRussia’s strategic interests in Latin America center on establishing a multisector, persistent presence in the Western Hemisphere as a counterweight to U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) presence in the former Soviet Union and bordering states. The engagement focuses on aggressive implementation of what the West calls the doctrine of “hybrid warfare.” This approach fuses hard and soft power across multiple domains, recognizing the existence of a permanent state of confrontation with the West. This strategy undergirds the rationalization and operationalization of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/inss-strategic-perspectives/1009/thumbnail.jp
Lawfare in Ukraine: Weaponizing International Investment Law and the Law of Armed Conflict Against Russia’s Invasion
No full textThis paper explores Ukraine’s innovative use of international investment law to hold Russia financially liable for damages arising out of its 2014 invasion and occupation of Crimea, and how this use of “lawfare” strategy can be further leveraged considering Russia’s renewed military invasion of Ukraine in 2022.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/inss-strategic-perspectives/1007/thumbnail.jp
Addressing the Threats of Emerging Biotechnologies
No full textWe have noted with interest the pivot in U.S. biodefense programs published in National Defense recently as the United States and other nations strive to keep pace with emerging biotechnology capabilities that complicate the threat landscape
Regarding and Reducing Risks of the Biotechnology Revolution
No full textThe convergence of biotechnology, automation, big data, and computational science (i.e.-machine learning/artificial intelligence; ML/AI) is fostering a “biotechnology revolution”, whereby current and emerging innovations are creating novel methods, tools, and products for many sectors of the global economy. The past decade has afforded proof (of both concept and capability) that technologic advancement is enabling biology to be purposefully engineered. Application of the “design, build, test” cycle to synthetic biology is generating high value commodities that impact traditional sectors, such as medicine and agriculture, as well as newly viable domains such as production of fuels, and industrial materials. Not merely evolutionary (i.e.- a gradual progression or shift), such developments are truly revolutionary, in that they are transformational and, in many ways, the trends and manifestation they foster are likely irreversible. While these innovations offer potential to solve heretofore intractable problems of healthcare, environment and resource sustainability, newly emerging techniques and technologies also have implications and direct viability for dual use
China’s military strategy for a ‘new era’: Some change, more continuity, and tantalizing hints
No full textIn 2019, China’s Central Military Commission adopted a new strategy for the People’s Liberation Army, titled the ‘military strategic guidelines for the new era.’ This was consistent with the past but framed by Xi’s political consolidation, growing threats from the United States and Taiwan, and a new military structure. This article documents the strategy and asks what would drive a more fundamental adjustment. It concludes that the strategy reflected a determination to focus the PLA on the necessary and the achievable, but a new direction could be influenced by changes in the strategic landscape, rapid modernization, or new operational concepts
Allied Assurance and Integrated Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific
No full textAcross the Indo-Pacific, the US and its allies face rapidly evolving security challenges. China is determined to field a “world-class military” by 2049 and seeks to use both hard and soft power to coerce America’s friends, intimidate its partners, and push the US from the region. North Korea continues to test missiles, build nuclear weapons, and issue bombastic threats against Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. Russia also periodically seeks to remind the US and its allies that it, too, is a Pacific power. It regularly sends strategic bombers and fighter aircraft into US, Japanese, and South Korean air defense identification zones and airspace and has started conducting joint “naval patrols” (to include one recently circumnavigating Japan) with China. Moreover, its unjustified and unprovoked war on Ukraine casts a pall extending well beyond Europe. Defiant of international law and increasingly prepared to bluster, bully, and coerce any actor — state or non-state — that seeks to oppose them within the region, these governments pose serious threats to US and allied efforts to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific
The Inevitable U.S. Return and the Future of Great Power Competition in South Asia
No full textMore than a year after America’s painful Afghanistan withdrawal, the future of U.S. and Western security interests in South Asia no longer relates mainly to the terrorism threat from Salafi jihadism, which has receded and reoriented there to be most menacing toward Pakistan and China. Instead, American security interests now require the proper posture for long-term Great Power competition (GPC) with China. Such a posture in South Asia requires patient, persistent growth in the slowly maturing, overt strategic security partnership with India and a quiet regeneration of a transactional one with Pakistan.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/inss-strategic-perspectives/1010/thumbnail.jp