Lasers, 3D-printed Rocket Boosters to Be Deployed Against Beijing’s ‘Grey Warfare’

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles has launched a new strategy that he says will “turbocharge” defence innovation, science, and technology. The Accelerating Asymmetric Advantage Strategy builds on technical and other input from Australia’s Five Eyes partners. It aims to counter Beijing’s use of what are called “grey zone tactics” in the Indo-Pacific region—something the U.S. State Department calls “gangster tactics”—threats, intimidation, armed confrontation, espionage, cyber-attacks, and election interference. Chinese aircraft have a history of flying into the airspace of other nations or harassing planes carrying out legitimate manoeuvres. Meanwhile, its ships have gone from navigating dangerously close to those of other countries to deliberately ramming them. Recently, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) forces intentionally rammed into and collided with the Philippine flagship vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, on multiple occasions....