“…China has employed encirclement in the past to isolate enemy weaknesses, to create bases of operations in the enemy’s rear or behind its lines, and to preposition multiple forces to surround and destroy its enemy.”

– The Dragon Slayer, Robert Peale, 2024.

Encirclement is the act and strategy of surrounding one’s enemy. It is not something we usually think about in the US. As Americans we believe in freedom, human rights, and economic prosperity through trade and hard work. We do not think of ensnaring others or creating footholds behind enemy lines to create strategic depth. However the People’s Republic of China (PRC) does and has for nearly a century. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) creates footholds through its various agencies and departments in other nations. It does this through its engagement in total war or unrestricted warfare, which seeks to attack an entire people or population. This is as opposed to just war or having limited and specific directives in military campaigns. China’s use of total war is against everyone in the world and specifically America. From Mao to Xi Jinping China has sought to replace the US as the leader of the world. While the US has sought to bring peace, freedom, and prosperity to the globe since World War II, China seeks to export its brand of Communism, tyranny, and despotism to others. The challenge is that China believes in deception in all activities. So, it seeks to encircle and deceive in its polices, directives, diplomacy and actions.

The other difficulty for Americans is that we do not approach the world this way and believe in being both genuine and accepting of others. China takes advantage of our friendliness, optimism, and naiveté that comes from being open and free. 

“While the West often views encirclement as a battlefield maneuver employed with a main force against another, the Chinese apply it to the whole battlespace. The problem today is that China continues to engage in encirclement in ways that go beyond traditional Western perceptions and the Western way of war. As we will see, China employs encirclement in deceptive and subtle ways to preposition, surround, and exploit weaknesses. All of this is to remove the advantages of its enemy in order to strike at the opportune moment.”

– The Dragon Slayer, Robert Peale, 2024.

One needs to look no further for evidence of this than from the founder of the PRC and CCP himself. When writing about the “People’s War” for Communist China, Chairman Mao specifically addressed the strategy of encirclement. According to Mao:

“In every battle, concentrate an absolutely superior force (two, three, four and sometimes even five or six times the enemy’s strength), encircle [emphasis added] the enemy forces completely, strive to wipe them out thoroughly and do not let any escape from the net. In special circumstances, use the method of dealing the enemy crushing blows, that is, concentrate all our strength to make a frontal attack and an attack on one or both of his flanks, with the aim of wiping out one part and routing another so that our army can swiftly move its troops to smash other enemy forces. Strive to avoid battles of attrition in which we lose more than we gain or only break even. In this way, although inferior as a whole (in terms of numbers), we shall be absolutely, superior in every part and every specific campaign, and this ensures victory in the campaign. As time goes on, we shall become superior as a whole and wipe out all the enemy.”

– Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung (Mao’s Little Red Book), Mao Zedong, 1964

More recently, China has accused the US of encircling it in the Pacific in the area of the South China Sea (SCS). China actively and consciously portrays itself as the victim on the international stage in order to gain sympathy and justify its own hostile actions. China is “never the aggressor.” It simply wants to liberate Taiwan from personal freedom, democracy, and economic prosperity by subordinating it the Chinese Communist dictatorship. While that might seem half a world away to Americans, China is actively doing the same thing in our nation and in the Western Hemisphere (our backyard). This cannot be ignored and must be countered immediately. 

Here are 3 examples of the Chinese using the term encirclement in ways that we do not typically consider.

1. A recent headline from the Chinese Global Times website said “US Marines relocate from Okinawa to Guam; US strategy of encircling China using island chains unchanged, says expert”

According to Fu QianShao, a Chinese military expert, “The transfer of US troops from Okinawa on the first island chain to Guam on the second island chain does not mean that the US military encirclement around China is becoming less tight, Fu said.”

“Fu noted that the US has been scattering some of its forces from the first island chain to the second and third island chains lately. With the Chinese military’s rapid development, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) warships and warplanes have become capable of operating in and over far seas, in addition to the deployment of more types of long-range missiles. This has led to US’ worries about the safety of its military assets along the first island chain.”

2. Another example from December 13th is that of the Chinese using encirclement to tackle a desert project.

According to Xinhua, a Chinese propaganda-I-mean-“news”-agency:

“Another feat in human history! Taklimakan Desert encircled with green belt”

“The Taklimakan Desert, once known as the “sea of death,” is now encircled with a 3,046-km green belt. This incredible achievement is part of China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, the world’s largest afforestation initiative.”

“Using a combination of vegetation, solar-powered sand-blocking technology, and sustainable industries, the project safeguards local infrastructure, creates economic opportunities, and offers hope for the global desertification battle.”

3. Last week MSN used the word encircle to describe China’s PLA Navy (PLAN) actions to literally surround Taiwan with its fleet.

To learn more about how we got here and how you can make a difference to stand against China and its military strategy of total war/unrestricted warfare, read my new book, The Dragon Slayer: A Primer on Countering China’s Strategic Encirclement of America. 

• Arm and equip yourself through knowledge of the Chinese threat
• Change how you interact with your elected representatives at the federal, state & local level
• Adjust your shopping and investing to avoid supporting a nation that is actively seeking your destruction
• Learn how to better stand up for your country and your freedom

It is vital that you become a Dragon Slayer to stay informed, speak out, and support others.

For more on China Policy, International Affairs, & Strategic Defense sign up for the Dragon Slayer Newsletter at RobertPeale.com and subscribe on X today.

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