defense Archives - Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies

Making the Most of It, Part II: Xi Jinping Leverages Coronavirus ‘War Without Smoke’ to Spur Digital Transformation, Test National Defense Mobilization

By APCSS Editor|2020-11-26T15:02:45-10:00April 27th, 2020|

In this paper, Dr. Dorman states that “Despite being tied to the pandemic or “economic restart,” current Chinese domestic propaganda efforts on topics ranging from “crisis management” to “digital transformation” and “defense mobilization” did not originate with the coronavirus. Instead, each represents an agile repackaging of Communist Party guidance and propaganda messaging that was already months or years old. Facing a crisis of confidence following its muddled response to the coronavirus outbreak, domestic propaganda efforts were initiated within days or weeks to remold the Party image. Instead of starting from scratch, existing campaigns were repackaged to highlight a Party that [...]

China’s Global Covid-19 Assistance is Humanitarian and Geopolitical. That’s Why People are Worried.

By APCSS Editor|2020-04-14T11:40:26-10:00April 14th, 2020|

The main thrust of the Chinese Communist Party’s domestic propaganda work since late January has focused on masking the early role of the Party in stifling public health transparency and creating the pandemic crisis. The primary propaganda message, widely disseminated in domestic state-run media, highlighted the “political and organizational advantage” of the Communist Party in tackling the health emergency once the decision to contain the crisis was made in Beijing. View/Download Document

Making the Most of It: China’s Military Wins the COVID-19 Fight in Wuhan

By APCSS Editor|2020-04-06T11:01:33-10:00April 6th, 2020|

The heroic role of Chinese soldiers working inside Wuhan city during the height of the COVID-19 epidemic deserves the admiration of the Chinese people and the respect of persons outside China. Their risks and sacrifices have been well documented in Chinese media. Over past months, one could not turn the pages of a major Chinese publication without stories, photographs, videos and even cartoons detailing their important role in saving lives.1 This is the story the Chinese Communist Party wants all people, inside and outside China, to understand. If this was all there was to say, we could also be talking about [...]

The Value of Thought Leadership in a World in Crisis

By APCSS Editor|2020-04-03T15:28:34-10:00April 3rd, 2020|

Security professionals find themselves in increasingly more complex decision-making environments in which trust is more difficult to establish and maintain, and in which people demand higher quality and performance. Having the type of guidance provided by thought leaders is essential for them to get ahead of challenges, to achieve a competitive advantage, and to be more relevant to the real-world. View/Download Document

Strategic Crisis Leadership In COVID-19

By APCSS Editor|2020-04-02T11:14:05-10:00March 26th, 2020|

When unimaginable crises, such as COVID-19, become a reality, leaders initially struggle to understand cause and consequence in an information-poor environment, which makes for a challenging decision-making domain. Crises require adept public leadership and communication to ensure that political consequences are acceptable. A well-managed crisis not only limits the impact of a crisis, it restores public trust in government. Several crisis scholars propose that crisis leaders in particular, must master six key capabilities to be effective. View/Download Document

The Battle of Sense-making and Meaning-Making During the COVID-19 Crisis

By APCSS Editor|2020-04-02T11:14:06-10:00March 26th, 2020|

China’s purposeful obfuscation of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan has been well established. The first case with COVID-19 symptoms was reported, not on Dec 8 2019 as China reported to the World Health Organization, but on Nov 17, 2019 as revealed in unpublished Chinese government data.1 China’s reactive lock-down approach suppressed the release of vital information that could have been used to limit the outbreak. As the virus continued to spread, China thought only of its own safety and allowed infectious people to travel throughout the world and created a pandemic. View/Download Document

An Analysis of Australian Defense Policy from 1901 to Present

By APCSS Editor|2020-04-02T11:09:17-10:00January 31st, 2020|

Scholars generally consider there to be three main eras in Australian Defense Policy: The Imperial Defense era (1901-1945), Forward Defense era (1950-1975) and Defense of Australia era (1975-1997). These eras are informed by world events, leaders and outside powers that influence defense policy on the continent. This analytical analysis examines each major conceptual approach and themes defining defense policy throughout Australia’s history. Additionally, it assesses how these themes inform and guide Australia’s contemporary policy. Finally, the analysis provides recommended insights on ways Australia can maintain relevance as a competent middle-power within the Indo-Pacific. View/Download Document