Salt Typhoon and the Evolution of Strategic Competition: China’s Cyber Capabilities and Democratic Resilience in the Digital Age
Abstract:
This study examines the Salt Typhoon cyber operation as a paradigmatic case of China’s evolving cyber capabilities and their implications for strategic competition. The analysis reveals that Salt Typhoon represents a qualitative evolution from opportunistic intelligence gathering to strategic deterrence positioning, demonstrating how authoritarian governance structures provide strategic advantages in cyber competition while identifying pathways for democratic societies to restore strategic balance through resilience-based deterrence and institutional adaptation.
AUTHORS
Lebanese University
Beirut, Lebanon
Dr. Habib Badawi is a Professor at Lebanese University and a freelance researcher specializing in international relations and strategic studies. Since 2016, he has served as coordinator of the course entitled “United States of America—History and Civilization” in the History Department across the university's five branches, focusing on U.S. foreign policy and national security doctrine. His research expertise encompasses great power competition dynamics, with particular emphasis on Asia-Pacific strategic relationships and their implications for global security architecture. Dr. Badawi's analytical work examines how historical patterns of international competition inform contemporary strategic challenges, including the intersection of technology and statecraft in modern warfare. He was honored with the Academic Excellence Award in the Arab World as the Academic Personality of the Year 2018 for his contributions to strategic studies scholarship in the region.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
Quick Links
Archive
