China's new weapon for expansion: lawfare

By John Garnaut
Updated April 11 2014 - 11:13pm, first published 8:39pm
Philippine Marines gesture towards a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, trying to block a Philippine supply ship reaching disputed Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea March 29, 2014.  Photo: Reuters/Erik De Castro
Philippine Marines gesture towards a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, trying to block a Philippine supply ship reaching disputed Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea March 29, 2014. Photo: Reuters/Erik De Castro
Australian Rear Admiral James Goldrick, a co-author of the Pentagon report.
Australian Rear Admiral James Goldrick, a co-author of the Pentagon report.
The Australian delegation to the Bo'ao Forum 2012 meets their People Liberation Army hosts. It includes former Australian ambassador Geoff Raby (left), ANZ's Mike Smith (third from left), Andrew Forrest (fifth from left) with Vice-Premier Wang Qishan. The PLA's lieutenant general in charge of 'political work' is far right.
The Australian delegation to the Bo'ao Forum 2012 meets their People Liberation Army hosts. It includes former Australian ambassador Geoff Raby (left), ANZ's Mike Smith (third from left), Andrew Forrest (fifth from left) with Vice-Premier Wang Qishan. The PLA's lieutenant general in charge of 'political work' is far right.
China's Premier Li Keqiang talks to Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott during a welcoming ceremony for the Bo'ao Forum in Sanya, Hainan province on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters/China Daily
China's Premier Li Keqiang talks to Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott during a welcoming ceremony for the Bo'ao Forum in Sanya, Hainan province on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters/China Daily

The United States and its military partners are reaching for new tools to counter an unconventional ''three warfares'' strategy that China is using to advance aggressive territorial claims, says a Pentagon report.

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