Chinese Anti-Access/Area Denial: The Evolution of Warfare in the Western Pacific

摘要

Throughout the history of warfare, adversaries have regularly attempted to deny one another freedom of movement on the battlefield. Past forms of 'anti-access' served to both protect friendly forces and prevent enemies from gaining positions of advantage. As expeditionary warfighters, American forces have come to depend on safe deployment into theater and the ability to gain and maintain air, space, and maritime superiority. China, however, has emerged as a regional power with robust anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities designed to disrupt U.S. power projection in the western Pacific. To ensure U.S. military freedom of movement and action in the vicinity of Taiwan, the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM), must address Chinese A2/AD as a new way of war, comprehend the associated operational implications, and eliminate any imbalance between the military objective and the means by which to achieve it.