Inside the Dragon’s Firewall: China’s Cyberwar Doctrine and Strategic Intent

Cyber space has become one of the most consequential—yet least visible—frontiers of geopolitical competition, and China is rapidly refining its playbook. This intelligence brief offers a deep, strategic examination of Beijing’s expanding cyberwar doctrine, revealing how cyber operations are being deployed as tools of hybrid warfare, economic advantage, and diplomatic coercion across the Indo-Pacific.

The analysis details how state-linked actors and private proxies are used to penetrate critical infrastructure, government systems, telecom networks, and commercial databases—blurring the line between peace and conflict. It explains why long-term data extraction, persistent access, and supply-chain infiltration now matter more than headline-grabbing cyberattacks, and how stolen data can be weaponised for leverage during crises. Particular attention is given to the implications for India and regional partners, where cyber intrusions intersect with border tensions, economic competition, and national security preparedness.

Moving beyond technical cyber discourse, the report maps escalation, stalemate, and stabilisation scenarios, highlighting what drives restraint—or aggression—in the digital domain. For policymakers, defence planners, corporate risk leaders, and strategic analysts, this is essential intelligence. Those who follow Global Eye Intelligence gain early warning of how cyber threats evolve—before vulnerabilities harden into strategic liabilities and response options narrow.