To what extent do the Chinese cyber-warriors--within the People's Liberation Army along with both state and non-state sponsored hackers/crackers--represent a viable threat to both the security and prosperity of our nation as a whole? In the past several years the Chinese have developed a myriad of both lethal and non-lethal cyber-weapons with the intention of denying or degrading an adversary's ability to use space-based intercommunication network platforms. The PRC and PLA have demonstrated a rapid expansion of their asymmetric operations, especially in the realm of Cyberspace. This paper will seek to ascertain the United States military's ability to defend and enforce our national interests, both in regards to our own domestic infrastructures as well as our partners abroad from Chinese-directed cyber-attacks.

Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)