17 March 2025

Know Your Enemy: Essential Reading for Special Operations Professionals on the US-PRC Strategic Competition

Maurice "Duc" Duclos

Introduction

In today's complex geopolitical landscape, Special Operations Forces (SOF) professionals face unprecedented challenges in navigating the strategic competition between the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC). This competition extends far beyond conventional military domains into economic, technological, informational, and diplomatic spheres—precisely the arenas where SOF expertise in asymmetric approaches provides critical advantages.

However, understanding the PRC requires more than surface-level knowledge of its economic rise or military expansion. It demands a comprehensive grasp of China's historical context, strategic culture, governance philosophy, technological ambitions, and societal vulnerabilities. For SOF professionals operating in the gray zone between peace and war, this knowledge isn't academic—it's operational necessity.

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