March 2019 - China Breeches Western Infrastructure via Italy

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China Breeches Western Infrastructure via Italy

Summary: 25Mar19; NPR reported Italy as the first major western nation to endorse Chinese global infrastructure expansion into Europe. Italy will sign agreements solidifying their relationship w/ China sometime in April 2019.[i] There is concern by some within the Italian government China may subvert the domestic Italian market. There is also concern amongst European Union (EU) members the new Chinese-Italian relationship will undermine EU economic and political interests.[ii]

Article notes:
  • Italy endorsed China's Global Infrastructure Projects efforts
    • Italy intends to link China with its network of ports, bridges, railways and pipelines
    • Italy did not collaborate, or consult, with NATO partners, the European Union…leaving them angry
    • Italy’s government remains divided on the agreement since there’s perceived risk China will overrun their domestic markets


Questions
  • Does Italy recognize the possibility it may be one of many pawns being used to feed Chinese interests with little benefit to its own citizens?[iii]
  • Will China have access to Italy’s information technology (IT) infrastructure?
    • Does China intend to exploit Italy’s IT and associated infrastructure to wage war in the form of “informatized” conflict against any opposition to Chinese control/expansion in the EU, its allies and/or associated interests?[iv]
  • Will NATO and US forces/capabilities based in Italy suffer from Chinese expansion?
    • Is China setting conditions and generating for Italy to push out NATO and US diplomatic, political and security interests? [v]
      • Multiple forward deployed NATO and US naval, air force and army logistics, command control and other assets reside throughout Italy. [vi] [vii]
  • What impact will this relationship have on the EU economic, political and security interests? [viii], [ix]
  • What impact will this have on the North American Treat Organization and partner nations? [x]
  • What impacts will this relationship have should China pressure these nations to align against Taiwan?
Potential Correlations to Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” regarding the Chinese-Italian deal[xi]
II. WAGING WAR
  • 9. Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.
    • Is the EU the target and Italy the means to access the target?[xii]
V. ENERGY
  • 13. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.
    • Is China prepositioning diplomatic, economic and political elements to force EU support allowing China to seize Taiwan?
  • 15. Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of a trigger.
  • 16. Amid the turmoil and tumult of battle, there may be seeming disorder and yet no real disorder at all; amid confusion and chaos, your array may be without head or tail, yet it will be proof against defeat.
  • 23. Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. So much on the subject of energy.
VI. WEAK POINTS AND STRONG
  • 30. So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.
  • 31. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
  • 32. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.


[i] "Criticism Follows Italy Endorsing China's Global Infrastructure Projects." NPR.org. Last modified March 25, 2019. https://www.npr.org/2019/03/25/706473460/criticism-follows-italy-endorsing-chinas-global-infrastructure-projects. Accessed 21Apr19
[ii] Financial Times. "Why Italy Endorsing China's Belt and Road Initiative is a Big Deal." YouTube. March 6, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=qt8Nwk0DLio.
[iii] Financial Times. "Why Italy Endorsing China's Belt and Road Initiative is a Big Deal." YouTube. March 6, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=qt8Nwk0DLio.
[iv] U.S. Department of Defense. Accessed April 21, 2019. https://media.defense.gov/2018/Aug/16/2001955282/-1/-1/1/2018-CHINA-MILITARY-POWER-REPORT.PDF.
[v] Financial Times. "Why Italy Endorsing China's Belt and Road Initiative is a Big Deal." YouTube. March 6, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=qt8Nwk0DLio.
[vi] "US Military Bases in Italy." Military Bases. Accessed April 21, 2019. https://militarybases.com/overseas/italy/.
[vii] "Category:NATO Installations in Italy." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Accessed April 21, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:NATO_installations_in_Italy.
[viii] Brattberg, Erik. "Time for NATO to Talk About China." Carnegie Europe. Last modified March 26, 2019. https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/78684.
[ix] Financial Times. "Why Italy Endorsing China's Belt and Road Initiative is a Big Deal." YouTube. March 6, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=qt8Nwk0DLio.
[x] Brattberg, Erik. "Time for NATO to Talk About China." Carnegie Europe. Last modified March 26, 2019. https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/78684.
[xi] "The Art of War (Giles Translation)." Art of War 21. Last modified April 9, 2019. https://artofwar21.blogspot.com/p/the-art-of-war-giles-translation.html.
[xii] Brattberg, Erik. "Time for NATO to Talk About China." Carnegie Europe. Last modified March 26, 2019. https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/78684.

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