The U.S. China Cyber Warfare in 21st Century: Implications on International Security

Abstract

Power competition between major powers of the world has always remained dependent on the strategic security landscape. Over the years, military operations and warfare have evolved with the development of new weapons, equipment and technologies. During 20th century, the world witnessed a transformation from conventional strategic competition to unconventional strategic competition with the advent of nuclear weapons. The genesis of 21st century marked another revolution in military affairs when electronic warfare was modernized and cyber warfare came to limelight. In the current century, new poles of powers emerged whereby Beijing and Washington started competing at all levels and in all domains. Shortly after the incorporation of digital, electronic and cyber equipment and techniques by militaries around the world, cyberspace became militarized and emerged as the fifth battlefield. Moreover, militaries started developing cyberweapons, cyber-armies, cyber structures and high-end operations’ enabling cyber-force multipliers. The U.S. armed forces and Chinese People’s Liberation Army both rely heavily on cyberspace when it comes to their communication, operations and planning. Cyber campaigns launched by Washington and Beijing on various targets accounted for a cyber arms-race and continuous cyberspace strategic competition between the two countries. A shift from reliance on kinetic to non-kinetic technologies by militaries advanced to adopt cyberspace as a component of military doctrines based on which military partnerships have been established as well. This created ripple effects on the international security structure: some countries developed cyberspace capabilities to gain strategic leverage over their adversaries whereas others, without advanced capabilities, established new alliances to bandwagon opponents. Hence, new zones of competition have emerged where warfighting capacities vary, new weapons with unlimited scope of application continue to be employed and distinguishing the state between war and peace is difficult.