The Three Warfares: China's Political Warfare Doctrine

China’s growing military might and regional assertiveness have further exacerbated tensions in the Asia-Pacific. While the specter of China’s military capability is indeed worthy of concern, it is also the case that the employment of this capability to pursue strategic objectives through conventional war is extremely unlikely. Increasing its military capability has an obviously positive affect on China’s ability to negotiate for, deter, defend and secure its national interests in the region and potentially beyond. As China continues to gain international influence, it will also continue to shape the international order to its benefit. Even if the CCP, as it has in the past, uses existing institutions in the international system to compete for its advantage, the result will likely be a system more tolerant of behaviors that are counter to or degrading of the foundations underpinning the liberal international order. However, the ways and means that China will use to change the status quo, increase its international standing, and pursue the reunification of the Chinese nation are primarily political, not military.
In late 2003, the CCP Central Committee and the Central Military Commission (CMC) issued new regulations on political work in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). These guidelines updated multiple aspects of PLA party building, ideological education and liaison work. Within the updated guidelines, the General Political Department (GPD), or zǒngzhèngzhìbù (总政治部), was tasked with three new offensive aspects of wartime political work: public opinion (or media) warfare (舆论战), psychological warfare (心理战), and legal warfare (法律战). Collectively known as the “Three Warfares,” sānzhǒngzhànfǎ or simply sānzhàn (三种战法／三战), this aspect of Chinese strategy has become increasingly visible as the CCP pursues its interests in the region. Understanding what the Three Warfares are, how they have evolved with China’s military strategy, and how they are employed in the pursuit of China’s strategic interests is essential to addressing the geopolitical frictions that will arise as the CCP attempts to re-shape its strategic environment