Over the last six months, the CCP BioThreats Initiative has produced two reports on NeuroStrike as deployed by the PLA. Having some knowledge in this area, I thought it may be interesting to review the claims and perhaps set the record straight in some areas. The two reports can be found at the following links:
Enumerating, Targeting and Collapsing the Chinese Communist Party’s NeuroStrike Program
Warfare in the Cognitive Age: NeuroStrike and the PLA’s Advanced Psychological Weapons & Tactics
The first claim that we come across is that the CCP/PLA have become world leaders in the area of NeuroStrike:
Unknown to many, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its People’s Liberation Army
(PLA) have established themselves as world leaders in the development of NeuroStrike
weapons.
I would tend to rank this as partially true. The CCP/PLA program would be much younger than either Western or Russian programs which have their roots in post-WWII development programs. Dong Fang Hong 1, China’s first satellite, was not deployed until the 70s. A full 13 years after US/Russian efforts. If we assume a similar development path, then the Chinese program is at least a decade behind that of the US/Russia.
Today, that decade wouldn’t amount to much in the way of a difference. It should mean a fully functioning AGI and a satellite network capable of being used as a BCI. The key differences would be how advanced the BCI is and how natural the AGI is. It is somewhat the case that as time passes, certain problems become harder to resolve slowing the progress of development
These platforms directly attack, or even control, mammalian brains (including humans) with microwave/directed energy weapons via standalone platforms (i.e., handheld gun) or the broader electromagnetic spectrum.
This is the basics of it. For control we’re probably looking at a very specialised radar platform. Machine learning driven, UWB (10MHz-100GHz+), capable of independently modulating every microHertz and retaining a 24/7 link, under any weather conditions, with the human brain. No doubt other forms of radar can be used to provide limited capability, but given the duration of the Chinese program it would be expected to have these larger dedicated platforms.
NeuroStrike, as defined by McCreight, refers to the engineered targeting of warfighter and civilian brains using distinct non-kinetic technology to impair cognition, reduce situational awareness, inflict long term neurological degradation and fog normal cognitive functions.
NeuroStrike is capable of controlling the human brain and body. Therefore the definition, as a threat, is as broad as every potential capability a human or group of humans can inflict. In addition to this, is the AGI element meaning that threat has a force multiplier in terms of strategic sabotage capabilities.
NeuroStrike is part of the CCP’s standard order of battle; not an unconventional set of capabilities only to be used under extreme circumstances. This represents a fundamental
difference in strategic thinking regarding these domains in Beijing. This is not a hypothetical point.
NeuroStrike’s secrecy in the cold war era and beyond meant that it was reserved for the most secret of operations. Even the basic methodology and physics is restricted from publication or research in either the US/Russia. This meant, operationally, the system could only be deployed on a statistical basis or else it would become visible. For example, it is likely these systems picked up on 9/11 and it was sat on. CCP/PLA’s approach is quite different if its NeuroStrike forms part of the standard order of battle. It also means that troops will be training with AGI in battlefield scenarios providing a force multiplier.
Their new landscape of NeuroStrike development includes using massively distributed human-computer interfaces to control entire populations as well as a range of weapons designed to cause cognitive damage.
The limiting factor here will be the satellite and ground-based antennas. At present, these systems are probably limited to a few thousand targets on any given horizon. Obviously, this is a limitation that can be overcome with more satellites and ground-based stations. Such a deployment is hard to hide and very fragile from a military perspective. In the opening stages of any major conflict, it is expected that satellites will take the brunt of the initial attacks longs before any ground-based operations occur. NeuroStrike, as such, is most dangerous in pre-conflict and cold war-like scenarios.
Any breakthrough in this research would provide unprecedented tools for the CCP to forcibly establish a new world order, which has been Xi Jinping’s lifelong goal.
The breakthroughs mentioned would fall into two categories. The first would be a dramatic rise in the ability of a single satellite to interface with groups of people. The second is any breakthrough in non-local communication providing one of the most sinister types of takeovers imaginable. Its is because of this latter possibility that development of any kind should be aggressively resisted.
Any remaining sources of resistance on the ground are then dealt with through CCP NeuroStrike weaponry that instill intense fear and/or other forms of cognitive incoherence resulting in inaction.
Even basic things like localised back pain, respiratory issues or blocking leg nerve communication could cripple an entire force. The ability to scan over a hundred, to a few thousand targets should not be considered unrealistic.
The net result of such a scenario would be the PLA establishing absolute control over a
geography such as Taiwan while simultaneously blunting any American strategic options to intervene and physically insert personnel into the theater.
In practice, it means that the first attack will be known to all sides. It is RF transmitters and satellites. In the case of Taiwan, this will ultimately mean a limited attack on China proper.
In 2014, China’s National Defense University fully articulated the ‘Three Warfares’ strategic concept for the first time. Three Warfares is specifically designed to enable China to achieve end goals that have traditionally been accomplished by conventional military force through the effective use of psychological warfare, media warfare, and legal warfare.
The ‘Three Warfares’ doctrine has a niche application for NeuroStrike on all three prongs. With time, NeuroStrike will expand from minor influence to direct control of each prong.
Given the clear limitations on PLASSF psychological operations against India, it is possible that the PLASSF will focus more heavily on coercive NeuroStrike capabilities and precision targeting of India’s critical information technology systems, including the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite Systems (IRNSS). IRNSS provides real-time positioning capabilities within India as well as a 1,500-kilometer radius outside of India.
While NeuroStrike has the ability to interface with any system and leverage it as part of its digital Kung-Fu, it is probably best to separate soft targets from hard targets. Hard targets such as IRNSS can cause confusion for a little while, whilst backup system are brought online. More insidious is the effect on soft targets (such as targeting leadership at different points in the hierarchy). False orders, breaking of orders, etc., are a completely different kettle of fish and the threat must be managed differently.
In military terms, the PLASSF will likely be the key enabler of ‘forced entry’ followed by
‘geofencing’.
This seems likely, but it must be recognised that these events will happen with the knowledge of key players and there must be a clear and coordinated response when NeuroStrike is used to advance geo-political positions. It could be the case that NeuroStrike’s existence drives instability in International relationships leading to attacks on satellites, long before they are operationally used.
Like all of the CCP’s asymmetric warfare programs, NeuroStrike depends entirely on
presenting a massively decentralized and fragmented network structure. This renders it nearly impossible to map using traditional investigative or intelligence approaches. China does not yet possess the defense and industrial base to produce the types of technologies required to operate a NeuroStrike program that has technical capabilities that match the strategic ambitions of the CCP and PLA.
I don’t know if this is fully accurate, the CCP/PLA NeuroStrike program should be only 10 years (at most) behind Western/Russian efforts. If that is the case, then they are more than ready at an operational level to deliver upon most ambitions.
This fundamental gap presents a massive vulnerability for decapitating strikes against the
NeuroStrike program provided that these gaps can be surfaced and precision targeted.
At this stage, I would start polishing the missiles. This is operational, not aspirational.
Moving to the next report, Warfare in the Cognitive Age: NeuroStrike and the PLA’s Advanced Psychological Weapons & Tactics, let’s take a look at some of the new revelations.
This evolution necessitates the incorporation of terms such as “Anomalous Health Incidents” (AHI) and “Unconventionally Acquired Brain Injury” (UBI), both officially recognized by the US Defense Department as indicators of a novel form of covert offensive capabilities. Notably, the term “Havana Syndrome” is inherently intertwined with these concepts, coexisting within the broader term “NeuroStrike,” which merits its unique definition.
Out of the gate, we are into Havana Syndrome and its various brandings as AHI and UBI. Further, we are told that this forms part of the expanded definition on NeuroStrike. This seems about right.
Over the past decade, technologies originally developed to address brain disorders, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and cognitive impairments have unfortunately fallen victim to dual-use scientific research.
The above statement is somewhat questionable. China has some history with psychic research spanning back to the eighties. Although heavily obfuscated, there is some records in the Stargate Program from ’82. Its more likely that there has been some ‘opening up’ over the last decade, than development from the ground up. Given their entry into the space program in the 70s, it would be expected that the earliest satellites were being tested around this time.
A substantial geopolitical contest is currently unfolding, focused on the neutralization,
deterrence, and defense against weapons designed to incapacitate the cognitive health and neural well-being of military personnel, leaders, and ordinary citizens alike.
There has been a multi-decade status quo on these weapons. This has decayed over the last decade as geo-political currents have shifted and these weapons become more operational and obvious.
However, the true efficacy of such technologies hinge not only on their
technical capabilities but also on their interplay with the psychological states of both combatants and civilian populations.
This is true to a certain ‘tipping point’ where control capabilities and coverage exceed a certain percentage. After this point, interplay becomes less of an issue.
They highlight the necessity to safeguard against both traditional psychological stressors and those arising from innovative technologies like NeuroStrike.
This statement fails to recognise that battlefield shielding is not possible, nor practical. The future is the progressive removal of the war fighter from the theatre or the complete destruction of orbital NeuroStrike platforms.
The program’s focus extends beyond individual targets, envisioning a capability that could potentially influence large population segments, thereby opening new frontiers in psychological warfare and information control.
Beyond deploying enough satellite capacity to do this surreptitiously, the only way to influence large populations is to make them aware of the capability, then use it in a manner where its presence is felt. This can be done, even with a modest deployment, but again it must be advertised.
The new insights emphasize the concept of “psychological protection”, which includes educational guidance, psychological regulation, and information management to counteract the psychological impacts of warfare.
There is no counter-acting NeuroStrike beyond a missile/laser program. All other efforts are based upon ignorance.
The NeuroStrike program represents a significant leap in the realm of military technology,
positioning the CCP at the forefront of a new domain in warfare.
They are among the top 3.
Within this environment, ‘信息搭载互联网以瞬时计算’ (information carried on the internet is instantaneously processed), rapidly reaching a broad audience. This results in an information landscape where ‘重复性、选择性、精准性信息从各种渠道交叉渗透’ (repetitive, selective, and precise information permeates through various channels), creating a scenario in which individuals, despite being inundated with information, have already been subtly influenced by numerous stimuli, establishing a ‘心锚’ (mental anchor) in their minds
This is boosted by having adequate distribution capabilities. Russia was good at this, having built the RT.com platform for just such activity and was damaged severely with progressive takedowns. China, on the other hand, lacks penetration in foreign languages to effectively carry this off. Internally, within China, it dominates and external narratives are nearly non-existent.
The PLA’s report titled “Aiming at future wars and fighting the ‘five battles’ of cognition” first released in the PLA Daily in August 2022 (Figure 1), presents a groundbreaking perspective on modern warfare strategies, highlighting the expanding roles of Psychological Warfare in PLA strategies.
The Five battles technique would require a multi-lingual news source on par with RT in specific regions to be effective. As yet, China lacks such a news outlet and is at 20 years from being able to deliver one.
Artificial intelligence systems have introduced a novel dimension to the PLA’s psychological warfare strategy. With their advanced data processing and pattern recognition capabilities, AI systems allow the PLA to predict and analyze adversary behaviors with remarkable accuracy. This predictive capacity can be exploited to manipulate decision-making processes, sow confusion, and create uncertainty within enemy ranks.
These AI systems are only as powerful as their dissemination capabilities. At present, this would be more aspirational then operational.
However, it also challenges established norms of warfare and raises questions about the autonomy and dignity of individuals targeted by such tactics
We’re well past that stage. By at least 50 years or more.
Therefore, psychological protection is a pivotal defense mechanism within the PLA, designed to safeguard personnel from cognitive and emotional manipulations, thus ensuring their operational effectiveness in diverse scenarios
There is only one defense here. Offensive strikes. No one can be expected to educate their way out of a brain injury.
The PLA is at the forefront of incorporating advanced technologies such as Artificial
Intelligence, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), and novel biological weapons into its military strategies. These technological advancements are not only transforming the physical capabilities of the PLA but are also having significant psychological impacts on both its combatants and civilian populations. The recent development of brain-control weapons, as noted in the research,
Softer approaches should be seen as augmenting the harder capability of NeuroStrike until these harder aspects can assume the role. For example, basic psyops is useful where NeuroStrike BCIs cannot interface at scale.
BCIs mark a revolutionary leap in military technology, offering direct links between the human brain and external devices. Within the PLA, these interfaces hold the potential to significantly enhance the cognitive and physical abilities of soldiers, potentially leading to superhuman capabilities in combat scenarios.
BCIs and thought controlled weapons are really gimmicks. Thought controlled weapons need to be mediated by intelligent systems to prevent misfires. Those intelligent systems are orders of magnitude smarter in combat than the average human. The human is not required.
The PLA emphasizes the importance of all-encompassing training programs that incorporate psychological preparedness along with physical and tactical skills. Such programs include modules on stress management, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility.
These training classes have limited value beyond education of the basics and knowing there is little you can do in face of the more complex threats. It certainly shouldn’t be thought of as forming part of a strategy of any kind.
These exercises mimic the stressors of warfare, including scenarios involving advanced technologies like the NeuroStrike program. The intensity of these simulations is progressively increased, allowing soldiers to gradually build resilience.
Again, the illusion of a strategy. A few minutes in a real scenario will leave anyone blind and babbling like a child. Either the war fighter bows out of the battlefield, or NeuroStrike is hunted and destroyed. There is no middle ground.
In summary, the PLA’s approach to building psychological resilience in modern warfare is a comprehensive and multifaceted one, encompassing extensive training, simulations, advanced recovery tools, mindfulness practices, peer support, and professional psychological services.
It is comprehensively idiotic.
The NeuroStrike program, with its emphasis on targeting cognitive functions,
signifies a departure from traditional weaponry, focusing instead on methods that directly impact the human mind. This evolution suggests that future military engagements will increasingly revolve around psychological resilience and mental dominance, extending beyond the mere physical control of territories
This seems to be the logical progression for all major powers. Gone will be the soft power options, preferring instead to impose rule from orbit.
The potential application of these technologies against civilian populations could raise
public concerns about the military’s role and responsibilities. The PLA recognizes the necessity of transparent communication and strict adherence to ethical standards to maintain public trust and support.
This is already a problem. The training of these systems has involved the largest human experimentation program since the holocaust, there are little-to-no ethical boundaries these programs have not crossed already and its unlikely to improve. NeuroStrike globally is a cesspool.
Yet Again Another Hack 