{"id":49588,"date":"2023-09-12T18:04:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T18:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/09\/12\/china-russia-will-use-cyber-to-sow-chaos-if-war-starts-pentagon-says\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:35:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:35:36","slug":"china-russia-will-use-cyber-to-sow-chaos-if-war-starts-pentagon-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2023\/09\/12\/china-russia-will-use-cyber-to-sow-chaos-if-war-starts-pentagon-says\/","title":{"rendered":"China, Russia will use cyber to sow chaos if war starts, Pentagon says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 China and Russia are prepared to unleash a flurry of cyberattacks on U.S. critical infrastructure and defense networks should war break out, according to a Pentagon strategy unveiled this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such tactics, meant to sow chaos, divert precious resources and paralyze military mobilization, were observed in Eastern Europe<\/a> during Russia\u2019s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, a conflict that colors the Pentagon\u2019s new 2023 Cyber Strategy. An unclassified summary of the document was made public Sept. 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe United States is challenged by malicious cyber actors who seek to exploit our technological vulnerabilities and undermine our military\u2019s competitive edge,\u201d its introduction reads. \u201cThey target our critical infrastructure and endanger the American people. Defending against and defeating these cyber threats is a Department of Defense imperative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defense officials have long considered China and Russia<\/a> national security hazards. While China poses the most-serious and long-term threat, they say, Russia presents more-immediate concerns. Both countries wield serious cyber arsenals. An International Institute for Strategic Studies report in 2021 placed China and Russia in tier two of its cyber powerhouse rankings. The U.S. sat in first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategy, which supersedes a 2018 version, describes China as a \u201cbroad and pervasive\u201d cyber espionage threat, one capable of absconding with defense trade secrets and monitoring U.S. citizens. It further labels Russia an online manipulator and harasser of critical infrastructure such as pipelines, hospitals and transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\t