{"id":58659,"date":"2021-02-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:24:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:24:34","slug":"flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdd.org\/analysis\/2020\/12\/11\/taking-on-china-breaking-down-the-fy21-ndaa\/\" target=_blank>acknowledges<\/a> that China\u2019s military is closing the capabilities gap with the United States, it also sows the seeds of an effective <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/information-warfare\/2020\/11\/04\/the-military-must-learn-to-operate-more-in-the-gray-zone\/\" target=_blank>gray zone response<\/a> to Beijing\u2019s transnational influence apparatus. On this front, it is the NDAA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/warontherocks.com\/2020\/05\/the-pacific-deterrence-initiative-peace-through-strength-in-the-indo-pacific\/\" target=_blank>centerpiece<\/a> \u2014 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2020\/12\/03\/compromise-defense-bill-confronts-a-rising-china\/\" target=_blank>Pacific Deterrence Initiative<\/a>, or PDI \u2014 which offers the U.S. its best opportunity to neutralize China\u2019s malign activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is, if defense planners can embrace the kind of innovation mindset needed to make the most of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/congress\/2021\/02\/11\/how-republicans-might-accept-a-smaller-defense-budget\/\" target=_blank>declining defense budgets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/media.hudson.org\/files\/publications\/JonasFINAL.pdf\" target=_blank>reliance<\/a> on corruption, coercion and clandestine operations is nothing new. Over the years, China has developed a robust influence playbook that underpins everything from its Belt and Road Initiative to its political interference. What is evolving, however, is China\u2019s increasing reliance on these operations to buttress its military aims, so much so that the People\u2019s Liberation Army\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fdd.org\/analysis\/2020\/12\/15\/defending-forward-chinas-military-aims\/\" target=_blank>success<\/a> appears increasingly tied to its ability to exercise all means short of war rather than engaging in war itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/it-networks\/2018\/02\/05\/why-dod-leaders-are-increasingly-worried-about-the-gray-zone\/\" target=_blank>intensifying gray zone threat<\/a> is most acute regarding China\u2019s reunification with Taiwan. While the U.S. tests the limits of a conventional strategy from a bygone era, there is increasingly less reason to believe that war is Beijing\u2019s preferred means of achieving its security objectives. That is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/asia-pacific\/2019\/05\/03\/china-is-laying-the-groundwork-for-war-with-taiwan\/\" target=_blank>not to imply there is zero chance<\/a> for miscalculation \u2014 just that the PLA\u2019s growing gray zone confidence reduces its reliance on military might to secure a favorable resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/asia-pacific\/2021\/01\/25\/china-us-step-up-military-activities-near-taiwan\/\" target=_blank>slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will<\/a> to the point of capitulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Beijing\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/asia.nikkei.com\/Politics\/China-retreats-from-50-year-pledge-of-Hong-Kong-autonomy2\" target=_blank>asymmetric success in Hong Kong<\/a> is any indication, the U.S. is unprepared for what comes next, not only as it relates to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, but also in the Arctic, Latin America and elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first test for defense planners will be to resist the urge to mirror key aspects of the PDI on its companion, the European Deterrence Initiative; this includes the EDI\u2019s focus on rapid force mobilization in response to a conventional threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If history is any guide, once the PLA has decided to move on a target, it is because China has so effectively primed the asymmetric battlefield that its conventional success is assured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, the PDI should prioritize efforts aimed at asymmetrically undermining China\u2019s confidence in the PLA\u2019s ability to achieve its desired end states. Central to that objective should be significantly <a href=\"https:\/\/intelligence.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/hpsci_china_deep_dive_redacted_summary_9.29.20.pdf\" target=_blank>increasing intelligence collection<\/a> not only on China but also regional host countries\u2019 receptivity to Beijing\u2019s overtures, the Achilles\u2019 heel of China\u2019s strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While hundreds of analysts track the PLA\u2019s every move, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foreignaffairs.com\/articles\/united-states\/2020-09-30\/us-intelligence-community-not-prepared-china-threat\" target=_blank>few monitor<\/a> Melanesia, Micronesia or Polynesia \u2014 the places where China is searching for its next foothold. The U.S. Defense Department\u2019s leadership need not waste months waiting for its intelligence prioritization process to catch up to reality. Rather, it should immediately deploy intelligence assets and personnel throughout the region, as well as realign technical collection platforms to support this mission. Corresponding reform at the departments of State and the Interior should follow, owing to the latter\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/oia\" target=_blank>mandate<\/a> throughout Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With improved intelligence, PDI planners should seek to align our asymmetric force posture and that of our allies against China. While Beijing has benefitted from a head start, there is time to transform environs seemingly hospitable to China into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.c4isrnet.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2020\/12\/15\/the-use-of-us-special-operation-forces-in-great-power-competition-imposing-costs-on-adversarial-gray-zone-operations\/\" target=_blank>inhospitable ones<\/a>. Central to America\u2019s PDI arsenal should be better leveraging nontraditional and less costly expeditionary platforms whose missions can support the Defense Department\u2019s growing cyber capabilities, foreign military training assistance programs, anti-corruption initiatives and other Title 10 authorities. These asymmetric investments will need to come at the expense of conventional programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PDI planners will also be hard-pressed to redefine what it means to be an \u201cally,\u201d a term more germane to Europe than the Pacific. Stress testing our defense relationships will likely reveal that we have been over- or under-estimating their strength, having previously evaluated them through a conventional prism. PDI planners must also modify their risk tolerance to enable covert collaboration with certain partners, particularly those with close economic ties to China. Some partners, such as New Zealand, may come to surprise us with their ability to wield unconventional power in ways that other regional heavyweights cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lastly, the department\u2019s internal machinery must be modernized to account for a China challenge that extends far beyond the Taiwan Strait. While the PDI nests within the department\u2019s Indo-Pacific architecture, the same cannot be said for the PLA\u2019s pursuits globally. Along with establishing new positions and processes to coordinate the department\u2019s China-related efforts, the defense establishment must do better incorporating its cyber and special operators into these discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While China has long valued out-of-the-box thinking, turning perceived weaknesses into strengths, the same cannot be said for the United States. If executed smartly, however, the PDI provides the U.S. with an opportunity to do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Craig Singleton, a national security expert and former U.S. diplomat, is an adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where he contributes to the think tank\u2019s Center on Military and Political Power as well as its China Program.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":35858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":66,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[45,66,160,11,36,17,48],"tags":[],"coauthors":[4677],"class_list":["post-58659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-pacific","category-commentary","category-daily-news-roundup","category-global","category-newsletters","category-opinion","category-the-americas"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"RJCCAJE3GZC6TNYRADYESPG6LU","arc_canonical_url":"\/opinion\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-02-26T10:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T00:24:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Craig Singleton\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Craig Singleton\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2021-02-26T10:00:00+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T00:24:34+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 905,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Asia Pacific\",\n\t                \"Commentary\",\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Global\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Opinion\",\n\t                \"The Americas\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China - Defense News\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2021-02-26T10:00:00+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-08T00:24:34+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.\",\n\t            \"breadcrumb\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#breadcrumb\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ReadAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#primaryimage\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"BreadcrumbList\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/26\\\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\\\/#breadcrumb\",\n\t            \"itemListElement\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 1,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Home\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"home\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 2,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Commentary\",\n\t                    \"item\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/commentary\\\/\",\n\t                    \"ad_zone\": \"commentary\"\n\t                },\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"ListItem\",\n\t                    \"position\": 3,\n\t                    \"name\": \"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China\"\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebSite\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Defense News\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Covering the politics, business and technology of defense | Defense News\",\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"SearchAction\",\n\t                    \"target\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"EntryPoint\",\n\t                        \"urlTemplate\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"\n\t                    },\n\t                    \"query-input\": {\n\t                        \"@type\": \"PropertyValueSpecification\",\n\t                        \"valueRequired\": true,\n\t                        \"valueName\": \"search_term_string\"\n\t                    }\n\t                }\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\"\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\",\n\t            \"name\": \"Defense News\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/\",\n\t            \"logo\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/defensenews-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/defensenews-logo-white.png\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"Defense News\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"\n\t            }\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\",\n\t            \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@type\": \"ImageObject\",\n\t                \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec\",\n\t                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"contentUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t                \"caption\": \"migration\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/author\\\/migration\\\/\"\n\t        }\n\t    ]\n\t}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China - Defense News","description":"China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China","og_description":"China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.","og_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/","og_site_name":"Defense News","article_published_time":"2021-02-26T10:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-08-08T00:24:34+00:00","author":"Craig Singleton","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Craig Singleton","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/"},"author":{"name":"migration","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1"},"headline":"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China","datePublished":"2021-02-26T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T00:24:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/"},"wordCount":905,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg","articleSection":["Asia Pacific","Commentary","Daily News Roundup","Global","Newsletters","Opinion","The Americas"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/","name":"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China - Defense News","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg","datePublished":"2021-02-26T10:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-08T00:24:34+00:00","description":"China need not provoke a potential military response from the United States when it can instead manage a protracted, debilitating influence campaign that slowly degrades Taiwan\u2019s will to the point of capitulation.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/26\/flip-the-gray-zone-script-how-the-us-can-customize-its-approach-to-china\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","ad_zone":"home"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Commentary","item":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/","ad_zone":"commentary"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Flip the gray zone script: How the US can customize its approach to China"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","name":"Defense News","description":"Covering the politics, business and technology of defense | Defense News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#organization","name":"Defense News","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/defensenews-logo-white.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/defensenews-logo-white.png","caption":"Defense News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/#\/schema\/person\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1","name":"migration","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=gcf4cb6ee0ec29e49e7a963234e4340ec","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/9e8d47be443ce94ce7fc357677b5f9c70235bb1f59e7267a102a74af58c04f59?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"migration"},"url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/author\/migration\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Defense News","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews","push-errors":false,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20204247315473.jpg.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58669,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58659\/revisions\/58669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58659"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=58659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}