![]() 7 Within this context, PLA military demonstrations and exercises in and around Taiwan generate valuable meaning for US military planners and foreign policy experts. They are designed to seize decisive opportunity, and exploit enemy internal political divisions, target adversary value concepts, force divisions in alliances and coalitions, and reduce enemy confidence. Psychological operations, therefore, are the practical application of psychological warfare. Psychological warfare is not an abstract concept but instead a tangible activity executed constantly by the PLA. 5 Put simply, the PLA conducts psychological warfare to deter an enemy from taking actions unfavorable to PRC interests, while influencing them toward more favorable positions. 4 PLA psychological warfare is guided by the doctrinal principles of “uniting with friends and disintegrating enemies” and promoting China’s rise within a new international order. However, the idea of psychological warfare appeared in PLA writing at least as early as 1963 and was officially described in the “Political Work Guidelines of the People’s Liberation Army” in 2003. The United States has traditionally defined psychological operations as “operations planned to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.” 3 A succinct PLA definition is more difficult to ascertain. Examining PLA actions in and around Taiwan through the lens of psychological operations adds a dimension to the debate that enhances US military planners and foreign policy experts’ understanding of PRC intentions.īefore delving into military actions around Taiwan, an explanation of psychological operations is useful. While capabilities, plans, and tactics are extremely important, the role of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) psychological operations is often overlooked and underappreciated. ![]() The debate over what to do about Taiwan typically gravitates toward military capabilities, operational plans, and tactics. In response, US military planners and foreign policy experts should maintain the strategically ambiguous nature of US–Taiwan relations and increase awareness of PLA psychological warfare.Īs the United States has transitioned into strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), much has been written about Taiwan as a flashpoint for conflict. The PLA’s use of Taiwan and airpower as historical symbols, synchronization with current events and global media attention, and targeting of a strategic opportunity with the Taiwan Relations Act indicate PLAAF incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ from 1 to 4 October 2021 were psychological operations designed to divide and deter the United States from defending the island. Analyzing record-setting incursions through the lens of psychological operations provides this opportunity. Therefore, US military planners and foreign policy experts should discuss and interpret the purpose and intent behind PLA actions. 2 PLA demonstrations of this magnitude were clearly designed to deliver a message. 1 Moreover, a single force package on 4 October included 52 aircraft and set a record as the largest single incursion in history. During this four-day period, the PLAAF flew a record-setting 149 sorties into Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ. This article presents People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) from 1 to 4 October 2021 as a case study in PLA psychological operations. Examining PLA actions in and around Taiwan through the lens of psychological operations adds a dimension to the debate that enhances US military planners and foreign policy experts’ understanding of PRC intentions. The debate surrounding Taiwan typically gravitates toward military capabilities, operational plans, and tactics, while the role of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) psychological operations is often overlooked and underappreciated. As the United States transitioned to strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), much has been written about Taiwan as a flashpoint for conflict.
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