People’s Republic of China
Under Development
Gray Zone Operations are activities that lie in the “operational space between peace and war”. More and more, we are seeing China exert control in the region while largely avoiding a conventional response from the international community. This is because China has mastered the art of employing gray zone operations which skirt the boundaries of kinetic actions. This discussion covers the PRC's unique approach through the use of civilian militia and the China Coast Guard to enforce regional objectives.
Taiwan’s ports are of vital importance because Taiwan may not be capable of surviving a blockade for more than a few months if the PRC were to execute a blockade. If access to these ports is blocked, Taiwan will be unable to support itself unassisted for more than 90 days according to many experts. Taiwan’s ports handle the vast majority of trade, including trans-shipments between other economies. Also important is the economic impact, Taiwan’s economy would suffer greatly in the event of a blockade or even a quarantine as this would seriously damage all of their export-oriented industries. In this segment, I will explore these vulnerabilities and discuss the two most likely courses of action that the PRC may execute if they decide to take drastic measures to reclaim Taiwan.