Author Archive
Ideas
The awful arithmetic of our wars
If we don't figure out a way to fight far more cheaply, we won’t be able to afford to win a single battle.
Threats
To China's war planners, AI is just another thing to deceive
The People’s Liberation Army is prepping for battles in which AIs work to distort each others' reality.
Exclusive
Threats
China’s burgeoning undersea sensor net aims to turn the ocean transparent
The PLA is building a self-healing “kill web” to surpass today’s brittle kill chains.
Ideas
China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers?
The Sept. 3 parade was clearly meant to convey China's growing military strength and technological ambition.
Science & Tech
Iron Man in the Himalayas? China’s PLA embraces exoskeletons
Lightweight frames that run on power tool batteries are no longer just sci-fi.
Ideas
China is working on reusable rockets—and a strategic leap in space power
The U.S. is ahead, but China's ability to close the gap should not be underestimated.
Ideas
How China’s new rare-earth export controls target the Pentagon—and the world
The licensing system replaces a cruder, less flexible means of economic leverage.
Ideas
For 250 years, it’s been ‘change or lose’ for our military. Here’s what needs changing now
A former commandant and a futurist take stock of Spider’s Web, Rising Lion, and more.
Ideas
China's burgeoning drone arsenal shows power of civil-military fusion
Trump's recent executive orders are just one step in a race against a competitor with a very long lead.
Ideas
Ukraine and the future of deception in war
If the U.S. military and its partners cannot master today’s emerging tools, they may fall behind in a critical field.
Threats
How China’s tech giants wired the Gulf
Ubiquitous Chinese gear, infrastructure, and deals belie the narrative of close U.S.-Gulf cooperation—and raise grave security concerns.
Featured eBooks
Business
A closer look at the Chinese space company accused of helping the Houthis
The ostensibly private Chang Guang Satellite Technology emerged from and benefited from state funding.
Science & Tech
China’s counter-UAV efforts reveal more than technological advancement
They also show the PLA’s dedication to learning from conflict and tech trends and its determination to dominate the electromagnetic battlespace.
Science & Tech
China’s military aims to harness the coming ‘ChatGPT for robotics’
Analogues to large language models for movements and tasks could usher humanoid robots onto the battlefield.
Threats
New products show China’s quest to automate battle
One system tested in a recent PLA exercise automatically dispatches drones, tracks targets, and assigns strikes.
Ideas
To China, DeepSeek is more than an app—it's a strategic turning point
Beijing views the AI tool as a breakthrough that reinforces its strategic autonomy and reshapes the U.S.-China balance of power.
Ideas
The future of China's new information support force
In a bid to dominate the information environment, the PLA created a force to build a resilient network system and drive innovation of cutting-edge tech.
Ideas
China’s plan to rule the heavens
A look at Beijing's strategy to relegate the United States to second place in space.
Ideas
How China is adopting battlefield lessons from Ukraine
A drone-assisted ambush of a Ukrainian tank drew particular notice by PLA analysts.
Ideas
China’s chip chokepoints
The U.S. and its allies have leverage in the competition to build advanced microchips.
