ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of outer space in Chinese military operations in light of these potential reforms. It argues that space plays a critical role in China’s military strategy and reforms by enabling long-range precision strikes through a space-based C4ISR network and through the denial of space-derived capabilities to its adversaries. The chapter also argues that official Chinese policy and authoritative Chinese military writings have raised the profile of space and counterspace operations within Chinese military strategy. The conclusion of the 2015 defense white paper – that the speed of the “revolution in military affairs” is increasing – appears to serve as an impetus for another basket of reforms: the development of “new type operational forces.” Informatized operations also place an emphasis on denying an adversary the use of its information systems. Counterspace operations, on the other hand, are intended to deny, degrade, disable, or destroy an opposing side’s space capabilities.
