FDD alerts Taiwan about China’s possible ‘Anaconda Strategy’

FDD Warns Taiwan of China’s ‘Anaconda Strategy’

The FDD, a think tank in Washington, has cautioned Taiwan about the increasing danger of China’s developing ‘anaconda strategy.’ This plan, as detailed by the FDD in a recent report, centres on utilising economic sanctions, cyberwarfare, and disinformation campaigns to isolate and pressure Taiwan into compliance without engaging in direct military conflict.

Tabletop Exercise in Taipei: Exploring Taiwan’s Vulnerabilities

In Taipei earlier this month, the FDD examined different situations in which China could use these tactics to harm Taiwan’s economy and disrupt its society during a tabletop exercise. The activity highlighted the imbalanced aspect of cyberwarfare, wherein the expense of initiating a cyberattack is much lower than the expense of protecting against it. The report pointed out that this imbalance gives China a strong leverage to influence Taiwan without taking direct responsibility and escaping a potential military reaction from the U.S.

Former U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, now the senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, highlighted the significant obstacles Taiwan could encounter in safeguarding its economic stability amid simultaneous assaults on its key infrastructure. “How do you maintain operations while experiencing a chain of critical infrastructure failures, in which electrical power is causing disruptions in financial services, and the like?” Montgomery raised doubts, emphasising the intricate nature of this crisis.

Disinformation Campaigns: Undermining Taiwanese Morale

Also, the FDD report warned that China may use focused disinformation campaigns to weaken the morale of the Taiwanese population alongside cyberattacks. This plan seeks to create chaos, decrease confidence in the government, and undermine the island’s determination to oppose Beijing’s influence.

Comparisons with the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The report also made comparisons between the situation in Taiwan and the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Dean Karalekas, a researcher, noted that although the Ukraine war has increased Taiwan’s perception of possible dangers, the obstacles Taiwan encounters are different. In contrast to Ukraine’s involvement in active warfare, Taiwan is faced with a higher possibility of facing a blockade that hinders its energy resources and vital imports. Taiwan is especially at risk in this situation due to its high reliance on imported liquefied natural gas and insufficient energy reserves.