Dragon Bytes: Chinese Information-war Theory and Practice from 1995-2003

by Timothy L. Thomas

Genres: Military Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an outstanding analysis and synthesis of Chinese IW theory, doctrine and practice, and another superior product of the Foreign Military Studies Office at FT Leavenworth. Tim Thomas uses Chinese sources in translation to describe Chinese IW strategic thinking, and how the Chinese viewed NATO invovlement in the Balkans. What was especially interesting are the Chinese perceptions of the battle for Iraq in 2003. Chinese IW theory is based on using informationized forces in accordance with Sun Tsu's "... subduing the enemy withoput battle..." This requires superior military strength, full preparedness, destruction of the enemy's startegy, and the ability to cultivate, conduct, and foster discipline.The goals are to "... force the enemy side to regard their goal as our goal..." and to "... force the opponent to give up the will to resist and end the confrontation and stop fighting by attacking the enemy's perception and belief via information energy."

Tim Thomas also describes many of the exercises conducted by the PLA. As a nation, the USA is way too complacent, and completely unprepared to face the Chinese determination to replace our hegemony with their own. It won't be pretty if, or when, that happens.

[James Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Information Warfare is a very real thing and the People's Republic of China are one of the biggest proponents of this type of military endeavor. Thomas has looked at the writings of the Chinese establishment available to the West and has provided an assessment of the way China intents to fight on the information battlefield... indeed, how they have already fought. The emphasis of Information Warfare as seen by the Chinese is different than the U.S. approach to this type of struggle. China sees IW not as a means of gaining information "superiority" or "supremacy" but as a means of gaining control... of making THEIR objectives the objectives of their enemies. Information Warfare to the Chinese means propaganda, network attacks, "information frontiers," and the development of special "information-based" weaponry. China takes IW seriously enough to adapt it to their concept of People's War and to create not just active IW units but a comparatively large reserve force as well.

Unfortunately, I believe that whoever laid out the book and edited it let the author down. I think they layout could have been done more efficiently to aid in the flow of the book and some editing might have made this a more readable product. Also, the book only looks at events up to 2004... a more up-to-date book could eliminate some of the issues with this one.