India Must Use Lessons China Learnt Long Ago

China formally embedded information warfare in its military doctrine decades ago. Learning from the recent past, India needs a whole-nation approach to wield messaging as a force multiplier

- LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN (RETD)

Wars are no longer fought only on land, at sea, or in the air. They are also fought in the invisible domain of information—where speed, precision and narrative shape outcomes even before a shot is fired. This has triggered a subtler, equally potent dimension: deterrence by information. A nation well-networked, agile in managing narratives, and proficient in handling information can create such a perception of dominance that adversaries hesitate to act.

The 1991 Gulf War was a revelation. The US stunned the world by fusing space-based intelligence, precision-guided munitions, real-time surveillance and live command networks into a seamless war machine. Iraqi forces were paralyzed not only by physical destruction, but also by the overwhelming information superiority of the coalition forces. For the first time, 'embedded journalism' was relayed from the heart of the battlefield.

China was the keenest observer. It saw not just advanced weapons, but the systemic integration of sensors, shooters and decision-makers into a cohesive information grid. This was not a traditional war—it was warfare under informationised conditions. By 1993, the Chinese People's Liberation Army enshrined this as a doctrine. By 2003, it progressed to the innovation of the "Three Warfares"—media, psychological and legal.

Media warfare meant controlling domestic and international narratives, influencing how conflicts were reported and shaping global perception of legitimacy. Chinese state media used these as strategic weapons. Psychological warfare was about sowing doubt, fear or hesitation in adversaries; while bolstering confidence of the allied audiences. Legal warfare created justifications for territorial claims and delegitimized adversary positions.