Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

China and Information Warfare
July 28, 2023

We are writing a report on Chinese soft power, gray-zone tactics, and information and
cyber efforts in light of the recent Barbie movie affair. We request your assessment of
the following issues:
Q1. There have been repeated incidents instigated by China related to passports,
publications, movies and maps that portrayed the illegal nine-dash line. Do you think
this is part of China’s efforts to popularize its claims in the South China Sea?
ANSWER: There is no doubt that Chinese party and government authorities are
engaged in “information warfare” on a comprehensive basis to shape public opinion
and the behaviour of private companies globally and governments viewed as
unfriendly. This is particularly the case regarding China’s claims to the South China
Seas. As is well known, the Chinese government put its nine-dashed line (or cow’s
tongue) in its passports. Chinese entrepreneurs have produced t-shirts and desk top
globes of the world with the nine-dashed line.
Q2. Can those activities be referred to as China’s gray-zone tactics in the information
and cyber front?
ANSWER: Grey-zone tactics generally refers to “coercive aggression below the
threshold of major war” by a state. For example, Australia’s Department of Defence,
2020 Defence Strategic Update, gave this definition: “‘Grey zone’ is one of a range of
terms used to describe activities designed to coerce countries in ways that seek to
avoid military conflict. Examples include using para-military forces [and] militarisation
of disputed features…”
Gray-zone tactics can extend beyond the operations of the China Coast Guard,
Maritime Militia, and fishing fleets to include information warfare, including cyber.
The RAND Corporation published a report in 2019 that stated, “These [gray-zone]
tactics include China's unprecedented expansion of artificial islands, as well as the use
of law enforcement and maritime militia vessels in an unprofessional and escalatory
manner to deter or deny the use of living and nonliving resources in the waters. Finally,
China has supplemented these strategies with growing employment of economic
coercion and political subversion [emphasis added].”
The term grey-zone operations better describes the combination of various Chinese
activities than gray-zone tactics. For example, a Chinese tactic would be to use high-
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pressure water cannons, dangerous manoeuvring or ramming against foreign fishing

boats in response to a particular incident. The use of all three tactics by the China’s
Coast Guard and Maritime Militia over a period of time in a specific area would be a
gray-zone operation.
Q3. Are you aware of any specific Chinese policies/programs that systematically aim
to influence media and culture products to promote their narratives?
ANSWER: Australia serves as a prime example of China’s use of information warfare,
including cyber, to systematically influence the media and cultural products. China’s
information warfare operations are conducted by the United Front Department of the
Chinese Communist Party that utilizes Chinese businessmen, diplomats and Confucian
Institutions in Australia to achieve its objectives.
United Front operatives target Australian citizens (especially ethnic Chinese), private
sector businessmen, academics, and Australian government officials at local, state and
national level to recruit agents of influence. Australian security officials uncovered
Chinese bribery of a Liberal Party Senator in the Federal Parliament who backed
Chinese claims to the South China Sea. The Senator resigned from office. The United
Front was also able to plant an agent of influence in the office of a state
parliamentarian.
Chinese businessmen working in Australia are pressured into offering inducements to
United Front targets (gifts, expensive wine and dinners, cash donations, travel to
China, etc.) to win them over to China’s side.
United Front operatives seek to influence ethnic Chinese community groups and
editors of Chinese language media (print, radio, and internet) to support China’s
claims to the South China Sea. United Front operatives pay for advertising to local
media and offer access to local journalists, such as sponsored trips to China, to ensure
they promote China’s policy line.
United Front operatives conduct campaigns to denigrate anyone who is critical of
China’s South China Seas claims and flood the internet with disinformation, such as
criticising the Arbitral Tribunal that heard the case brought by the Philippines against
China. Chinese students studying in Australia have been mobilized to physically assault
other students who are critical of China. Chinese students have even shouted down
lecturers at universities when they present views at odds with official Chinese policy.
Q4. What risks do international businesses face if, in exchange for market access, they
ignore the issue?
ANSWER: Foreign businesses, particularly the entertainment industry (movies), are
given market access on the understanding that they will follow policy guidance given
by members of the CCP’s United Front. This leads to self-censorship of films and
cultural activities by the foreign business.
China is a lucrative market for Australia’s entertainment industry and if they ignore
Chinese guidance, their activities will be cancelled or shut down.
Q5. What can Vietnamese do to respond to China's grey-zone efforts in the
information and cyber areas?
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ANSWER: Vietnam already has the institutions and human resources to counter
Chinese information warfare and malign cyber activities through specialized
departments in various ministries of the government, including Ministry of Public
Security and Ministry of National Defence and its Cyber Command and Force 47.
Vietnam needs to constantly monitor the threats to national security and provide
sufficient funding, up to date technology and properly trained human resources.
Countering malign foreign information and cyber activities is an evolving never ending
challenge that must be regularly re-evaluated.
Vietnam should reinforce its cooperation with friendly foreign countries, especially
Australia, to share experience and best practices in countering external information
warfare and cyber threats.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “China and Information Warfare,” Thayer

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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.