16 May 2026

ITOW: Legal Warfare

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has formally integrated "legal warfare" (ๆณ•ๅพ‹ๆˆ˜) into its strategic doctrine, as outlined in the newly promulgated "Regulations on the Political Work of the Chinese People's Liberation Army." This development marks a significant innovation in strengthening army building and preparing for military struggles in the new era, positioning legal warfare alongside public opinion warfare (่ˆ†่ฎบๆˆ˜) and psychological warfare (ๅฟƒ็†ๆˆ˜) as key components of the "three wars" strategy. While public opinion and psychological warfare draw from the PLA's historical traditions, legal warfare is a novel formulation requiring comprehensive understanding of its definition, implications, objectives, and operational methodologies. The article, part of the "In Their Own Words" series by the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), translates Chinese source documents to illuminate Beijing's evolving perspectives. It acknowledges that legal contests have historically occurred across military, commercial, and cultural domains, but their explicit designation as "legal warfare" underscores their heightened importance in modern conflict, demanding meticulous application of relevant laws by all levels of military personnel.

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