Part 4/9:
An intriguing shift arrives with a discussion on a 1999 Chinese military publication titled Unrestricted Warfare, authored by two Chinese colonels. The book explores how a technologically and militarily superior adversary, like the United States, can be defeated not solely through conventional warfare but via social division and institutional undermining.
The core idea is that when one side remains unaware that it is under attack, the side with knowledge has a decisive advantage. Warfare extends beyond bombs and armies; it involves spreading disinformation, sowing discord, and eroding trust from within. This approach reflects a modern understanding of conflict—one where victory is achieved through covert operations that destabilize society's fabric.