Strategic hypnosis: shaping public opinion. Modern psychology holds it true that subconscious activity plays an overwhelming role in people’s daily lives and sensible thinking. According to this principle, this report is not just a policy tool, but also embodies a covert intention to stage a strategic hypnosis, to spread anti-China sentiment among average Americans and inspire their fighting will. Since shared public opinion can shape the international system and keep it rolling, a grander and more fundamental power will build. People unfriendly to China will easily accept even radical remarks or be taken in by fake images. They might even go against their own interests and habits to drift towards wherever their subconscious takes them, like dust floating on the wind, and thus face more serious consequences.
Strategic hype: Establishing an anti-China alliance. The tone of this year’s report resonates with its predecessors: China’s military construction and intentions lack transparency; its military strength has outgrown its defense needs and jeopardized the balance of power across the Asia-Pacific region; there are uncertainties in China’s future development and a rapidly rising China will for sure challenge the United States’ dominance and the existing order. Apparently, the report has become a diplomatic tool favored by the U.S. to play up the so-called “China Threat”, as well as a tactic to build an anti-China alliance, blemish China’s global image, demonize China and intensify the doubts and fears of the international community. It is in particular to the liking of countries that have territorial disputes with China and could instigate them to join an anti-China alliance and confront China. It’s noteworthy that the report was released when the situations in the East China Sea and South China Sea escalated and before the Shangri-La Defense Forum. Considering the ever-escalating Sino-U.S. frictions and their ever-changing bilateral ties, the U.S. has clearly showed its intention to emerge from behind the scenes to lead such an alliance.
Strategic misleading: Raising fears among other territory claimants. By emphasizing the operational efficiency of China’s weaponry, including aircraft, aircraft carriers and missiles and China’s anti-access tactics, the United States is supporting its military-industrial complex in selling weapons in the world’s hot-spot regions and misleading the world in terms of China’s military strategy. It therefore forces China to dance to its tune and be a forever follower. With this report published, the U.S. has strengthened its interference in the South China Sea by instigating the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea and Australia to strengthen armaments in Eastern and Southern Asia, enhancing joint exercises with these countries and sparking a new arms race against China. It is attempting to drag down China while China is coping with economic restructuring and fighting downward pressure on its economic growth as it did with the Soviet Union.
