Posted on 12/11/2007 12:18:22 AM PST by Bon mots
Recent revelations of China's state-sponsored cyber attacks on U.K. financial institutions underscores that strategic financial power is high on Beijing's list of priorities. Moreover, these attacks are consistent with "Unrestricted Warfare," a white paper published in 1999 by two PLA Air Force colonels, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, in which they argue that future wars will be fought on many fronts, and that in fact economic and financial warfare will become an increasingly necessary and accepted form of conflict.
Whether Unrestricted Warfare represents today's official view of China's strategic outlook is unclear. What is clear, however, is that from a risk-reward perspective, Beijing must believe that, as a matter of national strategy, a policy of infiltrating foreign financial systems provides great enough rewards to offset the risk of significant political fallout. China's zeal for financial power is clearly beyond the realm of licit transactions.
But what specifically are the Chinese after?
Proprietary technology? The need for cutting-edge financial infrastructure in China is great, but Beijing could quite easily purchase needed technologies (or the technology providers themselves) and forgo the considerable risks associated with cyber-espionage.
Data? Discounting a criminal motive, Beijing could be interested in gaining access to transaction or pricing data as a means to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace, particularly in the commodities arena. China's explosive growth rate means that even a slight edge could save China billions in natural resources expenditures.
While theft of data or trade secrets could be the primary motive, Beijing is also testing information defenses and planting back doors - in short, developing a formidable information warfare capability. Beijing views the global capital markets as the naval philosophers of the early 20th century viewed the sea - that is, as the lifeblood of national prosperity, and therefore a medium for the projection of national power.
Operation Bernhard with a PC.
Well, I don’t think their strategy of “Unrestricted Warfare” could possibly get any more extreme than their efforts to poison our children!
When I heard of all the poisonous toys, I realized China’s tactics were every bit as ugly as the Islamofacists. I don’t buy anything made in China anymore and I complain vociferously about the abundance of such products. (God only knows how they are trying to poison the rest of us! Higher rates of autism and other mental defects among children can be tied to lead.)
Surely, you jest.
Going to be tough to mimic the excellence of their special forces. That has to come from inside.
C’mon. Lead was prevalent in many U.S. products up to the 1970s. I was exposed to these products as a child and adult for over 30 years and it didn’t affect me, affect me, affect me . . .
I don't think I ever saw that one... I know I wanted to see it... is it worth watching? I'll have to go and make sure over at imdb.
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