Intelligence Squared How Will the US Fight China? With Franz-Stefan Gady
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Oct 11, 2025 Franz-Stefan Gady, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and warfare expert, discusses the complex dynamics of a potential US-China conflict over Taiwan. He shares insights on the strategic significance of cyber and space capabilities, emphasizing their roles in modern warfare. Gady also highlights the logistical challenges the US would face, the importance of undersea warfare, and the risks of escalation. He raises critical questions about the consequences of military engagements and calls for clearer US policies regarding Taiwan.
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US War Planning Centers On Taiwan
- Franz-Stefan Gady finds US planning for future warfare is overwhelmingly centered on China and Taiwan.
- He frames his analysis by examining domains (cyber, space, air, sea, land) and service branches.
Cyber And Space Enable Modern Warfare
- Cyber and space are enabling domains that link ISR and precision strike systems across other domains.
- Dominance in these domains can determine the outcome of the initial phase of a US–China clash.
Systems Warfare Seeks Rapid Collapse
- Systems warfare maps an adversary as an interconnected system and targets key nodes to collapse it quickly.
- The US favors rapid decisive strikes enabled by precision and ISR to shorten wars and minimise cost.
