China's Unconventional Tactic in Gray Areas: Mastering the Art of the Strategic In-between
In the latest episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, Ambassador David Shear and Dr. Bradley Cooper delve into the strategic approach of China's gray zone activities in Asia and globally. Ambassador Shear, a former US ambassador to Vietnam and assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, and Dr. Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, share their insights on this critical topic. Ambassador Shear is the recipient of the State Department's Superior Honor Award and the Defense Department's Civilian Meritorious Service Award. Dr. Cooper, previously the senior fellow for Asian security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, has served in various roles at the National Security Council and the Department of Defense. China's gray zone activities are characterised as strategically irregular and logical given its weaknesses relative to the United States. Operating in the 'gray zone' between war and peace, China employs non-military tools such as political coercion, economic pressure, disinformation campaigns, and maritime militia activities to gain strategic advantages. These activities include ambiguous naval operations near contested areas, cyber espionage, and influence operations that amplify China's regional influence without provoking full-scale conflict. The inconsistent US policy and posture in the Pacific, characterised by fluctuating commitments and strategic ambiguity, undermine effective deterrence and allow China more freedom to consolidate its gains and expand influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The podcast sets a foundation for understanding where and how the United States might choose to counter China's gray zone activities. The implications of these gray zone activities extend beyond the United States, affecting other Asian nations and their competition for influence. The podcast critiques these inconsistencies in US policy in the Pacific and recognises the need for building and maintaining consistent relationships over time to counter China's influence. Listeners can tune in to the Irregular Warfare Podcast Episode 34 on various platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, and various other podcast apps. For updates and announcements, follow the podcast on Twitter. Dr. Cooper, in addition to his work on the podcast, teaches at Georgetown University and Princeton University, and cohosts the Net Assessment podcast. The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a collaboration between an unspecified website and Princeton University's Empirical Studies of Conflict Project.
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