Since 2010, China's economic rise, increased influence on neighboring countries, and the goal of countering U.S. military intervention through the strengthening of its Anti-Access Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities have intensified strategic competition...
Since 2010, China's economic rise, increased influence on neighboring countries, and the goal of countering U.S. military intervention through the strengthening of its Anti-Access Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities have intensified strategic competition between the United States and China. This has further heightened the instability of the regional security environment, increasing the potential for military conflicts. The purpose of this article is to review the U.S. assessment of China's A2/AD strategy in terms of China's threat perception and its efforts to enhance military capabilities for future warfare. Additionally, this article aims to derive alternative implications for the South Korean military.
Since 2004, China has pursued military modernization with an emphasis on informatization, changing its military strategy guidelines to focus on victory in regional warfare through informatization. Since 2015, China has further enhanced its A2/AD capabilities by emphasizing information operations and establishing the Strategic Support Force to develop information-led operations and consolidate its capabilities in the space, cyber, and electromagnetic domains. U.S. experts and the U.S. Department of Defense estimate that over 40% of China's A2/AD capabilities may be employed through non-physical information operations. However, domestic studies tend to assert that over 80% of China's A2/AD capabilities will be used to deter U.S. access to the region through physical means such as missile systems and strengthened maritime and air forces. It is essential to recognize the increasing significance of information operations in modern warfare and enhance the South Korean military's information operation capabilities while developing a realistic assessment of China's A2/AD strategy.