The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) senior leadership has issued warnings of a possible future war, calling on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to focus on fighting and strengthen military training in preparation for war. Li Keqiang and Qin Gang emphasized the need for greater preparation and intensified military training, and China has also announced a 7.2 percent increase in military expenditure. While some may dismiss these remarks as the bellicose nationalism of Xi Jinping and his team, China’s recent activities, including aggression against neighbors, militarization of artificial islands, and cyberwarfare against the West, suggest a hybrid war against the West. AUKUS, a security alliance in response to the region’s security challenges, must be part of a more comprehensive program to counter the CCP’s hybrid war.
Imminent war cautioned.
