Hong Kong Ta Kang Pao:
Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui foretold such a scenario
of terrorists using high technological means to carry
out attacks beyond the military scope in the 21st
century to achieve military goals in their book Unrestricted
Warfare, published in 1999. The large-scale
terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C. and New York
unfortunately were just like what they predicted.
Those carrying out the attacks were
terrorists but not career military personnel, what
they used were civilian airplanes but not military
weapons, and what they attacked were international
trade buildings but not military targets; however, the
casualties and shock caused by the attacks were even
more serious than those caused by a war. This is
"unrestricted warfare" -- it goes beyond the
scope of a military warfare but it achieves the
objectives of fighting a war.
Colonels Qiao and Wang: "The
series of attacks taking place in the United States
were very dreary and terrifying, but they must not be
viewed from a single perspective. While the thousands
of innocent people killed or injured in the attacks
were victims of terrorism, they also were victims of
US foreign policy. The September 11, 2001 very likely
is the beginning of the decline of the United States,
as a superpower."
Ta Kong Pao: Qiao Liang
and Wang Xiangsui, show that it is impossible for weak
countries to follow rules of strong countries in
carrying out [military] actions. Although employing
such [terrorist] means by them is completely not in
line with basic morality of mankind, they do not think
of whether it is honorable and just expect to achieve
their strategic goals using various tactical means.
Although the terrorists destroyed only two or three
targets in their attacks, the effect was strategic.
Such attacks will be one of the major forms of warfare
in the 21st century.
Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui:
"The attacks demonstrated the United States'
fragility and weakness and showed that essentially it
is unable to stand attacks. The National Missile
Defense [NMD] system cannot save it.
"The United States, a giant
'tiger,' has been dealing with mice; unexpectedly,
this time it was bitten by 'mice'; it has been
wielding a large hammer but has been unable to find
the flea. From a short-term perspective, the attacks
in the United States will very likely have some effect
on China's economy -- they might affect China's
economic growth. However, from a long-term viewpoint,
they could be favorable to China."
