The US-China Strategic Competition and Emerging Technologies in the Indo-Pacific Region: Strategies for Building, Dominating, and Managing Networks

Innovations in technologies coupled with evolving military thinking have led to advanced emerging military technolo-gies ranging from artificial intelligence, lethal autonomous weapons, hypersonic weapons, directed energy weapons, biotechnology, and quantum technology. These technolo-gies not only open new domains in warfighting capabilities and strategy by changing the size and speed of destructions but may also bring challenges in curbing arms race, manag-ing networks, and achieving peace and security. This study examines the rising significance of emerging technologies in Indo-Pacific security and further explores US strategies for building, dominating, and managing the different networks of technologies, domains, command and control (C2), alli-ances, and partners. As advanced technologies play a critical role in supporting national strategic goals, as in the case of China, it seems clear that the future of strategic competi-tion will be dictated by who builds, dominates, and manages these networks and how one does it most effectively with clear strategic vision. In this paper I argue that networks are crucial in understanding emerging technologies and In-do-Pacific strategy for the unfolding era of strategic compe- tition.