AFF/CYBERWAR: CHINA POSES A CYBERWAR THREAT

CHINA KNOWS TO BEAT THE USA IT MUST USE CYBER WAR

JAMES ADAMS, National Security Agency Advisory Board, May, 2001 / June, 2001 Foreign Affairs SECTION: ESSAYS; Pg. 98 HEADLINE: Virtual Defense //VT2002acsln

The authors believe that China will never be able to match American technological superiority. Moreover, having watched Moscow spend itself into oblivion trying to win the Cold War arms race, Beijing will seek to avoid the same mistake. Instead, the authors write, a digital attack will give China a significant asymmetric advantage and even bring about the defeat of the United States. China has therefore been making large investments in new technology for the PLA and has established a special information-warfare group to coordinate national offense and defense. China-watchers in the Pentagon refer to these efforts as the creation of "the Great Firewall of China."

Part of the reason for such aggressive action is that China suspects that it is already under cyber-attack from the United States. Every piece of computer hardware or software imported from the United States or its allies is subject to detailed inspection when it arrives at the border. China's own technicians then take control of the goods and either resist or closely monitor Western experts' efforts to install the equipment themselves.

USA IS CONCERNED ABOUT CHINESE CYBERATTACKS ON THE USA

It said many unnamed countries were developing such technologies to complicate what the U.S. military refers to as "power projection" and to undermine morale at home.

     "Subjugating the enemy’s army without fighting is the true pinnacle of excellence," the FBI’s slide quotes the ancient Chinese strategist as saying.

     In a telltale update, the slide includes a 1999 quote from a Chinese newspaper referring to information warfare as a means of achieving strategic victory over a militarily superior enemy.