China's DIME Power from the Maritime Silk Road and an Asymmetric U.S. Response
Abstract
China's development of ports along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) has the potential to grow all aspects of Chinese national power, including diplomatic, informational, military, and economic (DIME) power, and the United States should pursue an asymmetric response based primarily upon non-military power. The MSR will increase Chinese economic power abroad, including sea power. It will grow Chinese overseas influence in the informational domain including through the collection of information and propagation of ideology. The MSR will enable the Chinese military to secure strategic sea lines of communication, sustain overseas deployments, and project combat power. China's diplomatic power will grow as a function of the other pillars of its national power. The United States should refrain from implementing a similar program. Instead, it should build and project informational and diplomatic power abroad, renew its maritime economic strength, and monitor the MSR in case it evolves to more directly threaten core American national security interests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 12, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1210131
Entities
People
- Paul Rogers
Organizations
- Naval War College