Why Should We Care About China's Gray-Zone Warfare?

In this episode of "Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific?", Ray Powell and Jim Caruso interview Todd Helmus, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND, about China's maritime gray zone operations. They discuss the definition of gray zone operations, China's tactics in the South China Sea, and the goals behind these actions, including resource extraction and creating a maritime buffer. Helmus explains how China exploits the gaps between military and non-military actions to achieve its objectives without triggering a conventional military response from the U.S. The conversation covers potential responses, such as transparency, supporting allies, and the use of non-lethal weapons, while also addressing the challenges of gaining cooperation from ASEAN countries due to economic ties with China. The discussion further explores China's evolving tactics, like damaging undersea cables, and the need for a comprehensive strategy involving economic measures and a reevaluation of escalation thresholds.