In great power strategic competition, states deploy wedge strategies to divide, weaken, and prevent opposing alliances. In part one of a two-part series on the topic, host David Wallsh moderates a discussion on Chinese wedge strategies in the Indo-Pacific and how the United States can address this challenge.

Biographies 

David Wallsh is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s Strategy, Policy, Plans, and Programs Division. Dr. Wallsh is an expert in alliance politics, Middle East security, and US security cooperation programs.

April Herlevi is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Dr. Herlevi is an expert on the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) foreign and security policy, economic statecraft for technology acquisition, and the increasing role of PRC commercial, economic, and military actors globally.

Twitter: @herlevi1

Andrew Taffer is a Research Fellow with the Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs within the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at NDU. Prior to arriving at INSS, Dr. Taffer was a Research Scientist in the China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs division at the Center for Naval Analyses. 

Toshi Yoshihara is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Dr. Yoshihara was previously the inaugural John A. van Beuren Chair of Asia-Pacific Studies and a Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. 

Further Reading

CNA Report: Countering Chinese and Russian Alliance Wedge Strategies

CNA InDepth: The US Advances Its Pacific Partnership Strategy in Micronesia

On April 20, 2023, CNA’s National Security Seminar (NSS) series hosted a virtual panel discussion on the challenges, opportunities, and risks of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into nuclear operations. The event was centered on a recently released CNA report, Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Operations. 

Guest Biographies

Mallory Stewart, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance, US Department of State​

Paul Scharre, Vice President and Director of Studies and military uses of AI Expert, CNAS

​Timothy P. McDonnell, Research Analyst and nuclear weapons policy expert, Strategy and Policy Analysis Program,

Larry Lewis, Principal Research Scientist and AI expert, Special Activities and Analysis Program, CNA​