Cuts Both Ways: The Geography, Technology and Strategy of Undersea Cable Sabotage in the Pacific
Abstract:
This article builds on the extant literature on undersea cables and information warfare by offering an analytic pathway to explore the operational limitations and strategic logic of attacks on undersea cables. While China possesses a host of capabilities that could be used to support an undersea sabotage campaign, there are also several technical, geographic, and strategic factors constraining its actions. China’s information warfare doctrine demands that its forces seek to obtain information dominance, but cutting cables will degrade both Taiwan’s and the PLA’s ability to operate within the information sphere. In short, cable sabotage cuts both ways.
AUTHORS
U.S. Naval War College
Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America
Jason Vogt is an assistant professor in the Cyber and Innovation Policy Institute at the U.S. Naval War College. He specializes in cyber, communications, critical infrastructure protection, and wargaming. Professor Vogt has authored articles on military cyber organizations, cyber warfare, and Taiwan’s critical infrastructure. Prior to working at the college, Professor Vogt held several positions in the U.S. Department of Defense, and he previously served on active duty as an Army officer.
U.S. Naval War College
Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America
Nina Kollars is an Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval War College’s Cyber and Innovation Policy Institute, where she specializes in cyber resilience, emerging technologies, and wargaming efforts focused on Taiwan and the Pacific. Dr. Kollars also co-founded the Maritime Hacking Village, a 501c3 that advances ethical hacking on maritime assets and infrastructure. She is also an executive bourbon steward.
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.
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