FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
The United States and its partners must understand the depth and breadth of challenges posed by China to effectively compete in the physical and information domains, the director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute at National Defense University said June 23 at Defense Logistics Agency Headquarters.
Brendan Mulvaney explained the purpose, functions and interconnectedness between the Chinese Communist Party, the Peoples Liberation Army, and the Chinese industrial base to help DLA employees better understand the context and constraints of the current environment. His presentation was part of DLA’s Warfighter Talks series, a critical component of the agency’s Campaign of Learning to foster understanding and collaboration among joint logisticians.
China’s warfighting capabilities
Mulvaney said China has an enormous shipbuilding capacity – 230 times that of the U.S. – and is working to increase its space, information and aviation capacities, as well.
“They can mobilize their entire system when they want to,” he said.
He also noted the Chinese consider the information domain – to include cyber and psychological operations – as a domain of war.
“It is equal to air, land, sea and space,” he said.
Mulvaney emphasized the need to prepare U.S. military and government personnel and their families for potential information warfare attacks, including deep fakes and personalized messages.
Looking to the future, China has goals set for 2027-2049, marking the 100th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of China, Mulvaney said. He highlighted China’s drive to be at the center of the world stage politically, diplomatically, economically, culturally, scientifically and militarily by 2049.
Supporting operations in the Pacific theater
After his remarks, Mulvaney answered questions from onsite participants and those watching virtually from dozens of other DLA locations.
In response to a question comparing military requirements in a future conflict to operations in World War II, Mulvaney said the U.S. will need to revitalize its industrial base to compete with China's manufacturing capacity and ensure reliable supply in a potential conflict.
Mulvaney also highlighted the U.S. challenges of getting to the Pacific theater and producing munitions and repair parts in sufficient quantities to support conflict in the region. He said the U.S. needs to think about how it will pre-position supplies and equipment in the theater ahead of time, especially in a time of conflict, he said.
“That's really where we need to focus, because it isn't going to be able to be a pickup game," he said. “We are not thinking long term enough about how we build the industrial base and how we build the acquisition and supply lines that going to be ready for that.”
DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly thanked Mulvaney for leading the conversation and challenging the audience to think differently.
“We know the Defense Department and DLA is transforming because of the changing character of warfare,” he said. “What we're really concerned about is the intent of our adversaries and potential adversaries to contest our ability to sustain the contested logistics.”
A recording of the event will be made available to DLA employees on the Campaign of Learning page (a DLA Common Access Card is required).