In the 1980s, I worked on a variety of research and development projects. Included were biological, microwave, acoustic, artificial intelligence, and urban conflicts. Each one of these types of conflict would not amount to the classic definition of war but taken collectively would constitute war.
Within the past couple of years, we have seen the following warfare elements in play:
- The release of a biological contagion either inadvertently or deliberately. Regardless, America’s enemies around the world have taken advantage of the resulting “pandemic”.
- Strange and difficult to diagnose attacks on American diplomats and military leaders. Apparently, these attacks use some type of microwave or acoustic technology.
- There are constant cyber-attacks on American interests. The latest is the shutdown of a major oil pipeline and the resultant disruption of the economy.
- For well over a year now, ANTIFA and BLM have disrupted personal, residential and commercial activities in and around major, primarily Democrat governed, cities. Urban warfare is in play.
The question is whether these various “attacks” are coordinated and constitute a form of 21st century war.
One thing I did not expect, was the suddenness with which the socialists and communists would take over the Democrat Party – and even elements of the Republican Party. Such a political turn of events has expedited the warfare noted above. It also makes fighting a 21st century war much easier and profitable for America’s opponents.
Chen Ping, Senior Researcher at China Institute, Fudan University, professor at Peking University, and senior member of a Chinese Communist Party think tank, tends to agree.
“In 2020, China won the trade war, science and technology war, and especially the biological war. The achievement is unprecedented. This is an epoch-making historical record. So for the liberal, America-worshiping cult within China, their worship of the US is actually unfounded. After this trade war and biological warfare, the US was beaten back to its original shape,” Chen Ping said.
“So I think Trump’s attempt to restore the declining international status of the US during his 4 years has failed. This failure is not only the failure of Trump’s personal campaign for re-election as president, but also the failure of the neo-liberalism-led globalization of the past four decades led by the US and the UK. Therefore, the development and modernization model of the US and Europe is not worthy of China’s imitation and repetition,”
One principle of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” is that “The ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle, but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting”. Thus, it makes sense to create conditions where an enemy defeats himself at little or no cost to you, his opponent. In modern terms, and in modern China, it is far better to help America subvert herself than risk violent physical war against her.