Competition in 2035 Anticipating Chinese Exploitation of Operational Environments
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Competition in 2035 Anticipating Chinese Exploitation of Operational Environments Training and Doctrine Command G-2 Operational Environment & Threat Analysis Directorate 15 AUG 2019 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE; DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED Competition in 2035 Anticipating Chinese Exploitation of Operational Environments 15 AUG 2019 Operational Environment & Threat Analysis Directorate Primary Authors Training and Doctrine Command, G-2 Mr. Richard B. Burns 801 Harrison Drive, Mr. Kevin M. Freese Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027 Mr. Keith A. French Mr. William C. Hardy Mr. Andrew M. Johnson This study was commissioned by the US Army Mission Dr. Nicole M. Laster Command Center of Excellence Irregular Warfare Force Mr. Anthony E. Mack Modernization Proponent (IWFMP) in an effort to understand how state and non-state adversaries leverage the strategic environment to their advantage. Analysis provided herein was conducted IAW ICD-203 analytic standards. Contributors Dr. Joseph G.D. Babb, Army University Dr. Jessica Liao, School of Public and International Mr. Dennis J. Blasko Affairs, North Carolina State University Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Mr. Bradley A. Marvel, Operational Environment & Studies, USINDOPACOM Threat Analysis, TRADOC G-2 Mr. Patrick B. Collins, J39, USSOCOM LtCol Scott D. McDonald, USMC, Asia-Pacific Center for MAJ R.J. Custodio, 500th MI BDE, INSCOM (U.S. Army Security Studies, USINDOPACOM Pacific) Ms. Penny L. Mellies, Operational Environment & Dr. Geoffrey B. Demarest, Foreign Military Studies Threat Analysis, TRADOC G-2 Office, TRADOC G-2 CW3 Angel Mitre, 500th MI BDE, INSCOM (U.S. Army Ms. Jennifer V. Dunn, Operational Environment & Pacific) Threat Analysis, TRADOC G-2 Dr. Benjamin Okonafua, USAFRICOM J-2 COL David Elsen, 500th MI BDE, INSCOM (U.S. Army Mr. Gary E. Phillips, SES, TRADOC G-2 (Assistant G-2) Pacific) Dr. Jevdet Rexhepi, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Mr. Bob Feldman, Foreign Military Studies Office, University, Khobar, Saudi Arabia TRADOC G-2 Mr. Anthony G. Serna, J3, USINDOPACOM Dr. Lukas Filler, China Strategic Focus Group, Mr. Thomas Sorlie, The Jasmine Planet Consortium USINDOPACOM Dr. Ian M. Sullivan, SES, TRADOC G-2 (Assistant G-2) Dr. Russell W. Glenn, TRADOC G-2 Mr. Jeffrey D. Vordermark, Army University Dr. Marcus Griffin, Northrop Grumman Counter Threat COL Robert D. Wagner, TRADOC G-2 (Deputy G-2) Messaging Support Program, SOJTF-OIR J39 Ms. Angela M. Williams, Operational Environment & Ms. Cindy Hurst, Foreign Military Studies Office, Threat Analysis, TRADOC G-2 TRADOC G-2 Mr. Lucas Winter, Foreign Military Studies Office, Ms. Karen Kaya, Foreign Military Studies Office, TRADOC G-2 TRADOC G-2 2 Executive Summary This study assesses how China could exploit conditions of operational environments (OEs) in 2035 to gain strategic advantage on the US. Five case studies examining conditions of the future strategic environment indicate that China’s whole-of-nation approach will greatly enable OE exploitation. China will advance its global influence using economic and financial power and exploitation of the information environment, leveraging and shaping the international system for its own interests while constraining others, including the US. Four significant implications for the US Army arise from this analysis: (1) Traditional US Army threat paradigms may not be sufficient for competition, (2) The US Army could be drawn into unanticipated escalation as a result of China’s activities during the competition phase, (3) China will undermine US Army military partnerships in 2035, and (4) US Army operations and engagements will be increasingly impacted by the pervasiveness of Chinese goods, technology, infrastructure, and systems. Introduction China?; (c) Based on our understanding of Chinese strategy, how and where might it exploit the identified 21st Century military operations are increasingly conditions in 2035?; (d) What are the implications of complex. They cross multiple domains, both the predicted Chinese exploitation for the US Army? affecting and affected by, any or all of the operational variables. They involve myriad state and non-state In order to address these questions, this study actors (states, cities, and non-state actors including uses several principal frameworks. First, this study violent extremist organizations, criminal groups, developed a framework that forecasts exploitable multinational corporations, non-governmental conditions in the strategic environment of 2035. organizations, and super-empowered individuals). This framework in conjunction with an overview of The US Army Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) China’s national strategy and a projection of how concept guides the US Army across the competition China will look in 2035 provide primary context continuum, which is characterized by a persistent for discussion of China’s anticipated exploitation state of competition punctuated by conflict. The activities in 2035. These activities are understood in US Army’s role is to deter adversaries through light of specific OE case examination. The report competition below the threshold of armed conflict concludes with an assessment of China’s anticipated and, when necessary, to penetrate, dis-integrate, exploitation and suggested implications for the US exploit, and force a return to competition on favorable Army. terms. The US military does not generally associate As it relates to the development and application of competition with conventional military operations. the previous frameworks, analysis was conducted However, many of the “2+3” adversaries of the in phases. Each phase involved systematic United States are adept at competition and do not research and analysis procedures. Analysis was make the same distinction between competition strengthened by leveraging expertise from the and conflict the US does. These competitors are US Intelligence Community, the Department of constantly seeking advantage over other actors, and Defense and Department of State communities, especially the US, across all domains, through all academic institutions, and think tanks that specialize operational variables, and with all instruments of in research relevant to this study. The greater national power. By understanding how, where, and methodology utilized case analysis to scrutinize why adversaries are competing, the US Army can Chinese strategy in light of the 2035 strategic compete and succeed by better focusing how it trains, environment and in accordance with specific OEs. OE equips, organizes, and employs operational forces and cases were selected as exemplars of multiple strategic better ensure the Army’s readiness to deploy, fight, conditions, as well as association with US combatant and win wars. command priorities and Chinese interests, as stated in Purpose and Methodology official documents. The OEs selected are: Ecuador (USSOUTHCOM), Egypt (USCENTCOM), Nigeria The purpose of this study is provide an assessment (USAFRICOM), Taiwan (USINDOPACOM), and how China may exploit the future environment Turkey (USEUCOM). This approach was designed to through 2035 to gain strategic advantage, especially understand how China may influence and ultimately in relation to the US. To achieve the study purpose, gain a strategic advantage against its major the following research questions were developed: competitors—most importantly the United States. (a) What conditions will likely shape the strategic For a detailed understanding of the methodology, see environment in 2035?; (b) Of the conditions Appendix C. identified, which are conducive to exploitation by 3 Additionally, this report includes a number of Additional strategic conditions exist widely, but were appendices that provide the reader a detailed look determined to be less operationally relevant and into the data and process that resulted in the analysis thus excluded. Specific OEs may be characterized by presented in this report. The appendices are: unique conditions, but are also excluded in favor of Appendix A: Strategic Conditions of the Operational more widely applicable conditions to create a basis for Environment comparison and common understanding across OEs. Appendix B: Operational Environment Case Studies China’s Strategic Interests Appendix C: Methodology Appendix D: Survey Results The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without Appendix E: References fighting. -Sun Tzu President Xi Jinping’s Grand Strategy outlines Competition in 2035 how the Communist Party of China (CPC) can US interests and operations are significantly successfully meet its strategic goals through a whole- impacted by the conditions of OEs across the MDO of-nation approach by the PRC’s 100th Anniversary competition continuum, but are particularly impacted in 2049. By 2035, the focus date for this study, the during competition. Competitors understand the PRC will have been using this approach for nearly power of not only the conditions in OEs, and their two decades. China will continue to promote itself as latent impact on US interests and operations, but a global partner of choice while employing all of the also understand that exploitation of these conditions elements of national power to achieve its strategic could result in a more significant impact, one that objectives. can yield an advantage for them and achieve a sort China in 2035 will be similar to the China of 2019, of strategic stand-off from the US. The Army but many of the trends present today will have MDO concept introduces this idea of exploitation advanced and evolved.