The US has developed a software program to predict how China would react to specific military and political actions, including arms sales and bilateral meetings with allied countries such as Taiwan.
According to a defense official, the program calculates “strategic friction” and refers to relevant information since 2020 to evaluate events that affected US-China relations.
The new tool would allow the US military to plan as much as four months in advance, according to the report.
US deputy secretary of defense Kathleen Hicks said that the armed forces must look at “a far broader set of indicators” and improve understanding of “threat interaction” amid increasing tensions between the two military powerhouses.
She revealed that the development of the computer-based system was fueled by controversial incidents involving the US and China, including Beijing’s condemnation of Washington and Ottawa for sending warships through the Taiwan Strait in October.
Hicks further stated that the new tool would help ensure that the US does not inadvertently upset China with its military actions.
Growing Tensions
Since 2016, China has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan following the election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who insists that the southeast Asian island is a sovereign nation and not part of “one China.”
Last month, 27 Chinese aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone without permission, which further fueled concerns from the US and other allied nations.
US President Joe Biden has announced that the country would defend the small island in case of a war with China. The statement was welcomed by Taiwan, saying the US government has demonstrated its “rock solid support” for the country.
China has accused the US and other NATO members of exaggerating the threat from Beijing and causing confrontation after several Western nations vowed to work together to counter “systematic challenges” posed by China’s policies.