"Thanks to modern technology, such as the development of information carriers and the Internet, many can now take part in fighting without even having to step out of the door," noted Wei Jincheng, a military strategist, in the Liberation Army Daily newspaper in 1996.
"The rapid development of networks has turned each automated system into a potential target of invasion. The fact that information technology is increasingly relevant to people's lives means that those who take part in information war are not all soldiers and anybody who understands computers can become a 'fighter' on the network. The public can participate," he said.
His idea was adopted by the highest levels of command. Major-General Wang Pufeng, the former director of strategy at Beijing's military academy, noted: "In the near future, information warfare will control the form and future of war".
In recent years, China has tried to spy on Pentagon computers, using a cyber-espionage ring codenamed Titan Rain and hackers have been active against computers from Britain to Japan and Taiwan. China has also tried to blind a US satellite using lasers.
"While it remains easy to measure the intent of troop deployments, the intent of a Chinese electron is harder to measure," said Lt-Col Timothy Thomas, the author of a book on China's use of cyber-warfare. "A weaker force can inflict much damage on a superior force with a properly timed and precisely defined information attack," he added.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ying-as-area-where-it-can-defeat-America.html
