allows new capabilities. As such, the book argues that the United States does not consider the wider picture of military strategy, which includes legal and economic factors. The book proceeds to argue that the United States is vulnerable to attacks along these lines. Alternative methods of attack Reducing one's opponent, the book notes, can be accomplished in a number of ways other than direct military confrontation. The book notes that these alternative methods "have the same and even greater destructive force than military warfare, and they have already produced serious threats different from the past and in many directions for...national security." Defense against unrestricted warfare The authors note that an old-fashioned mentality that considers military action the only offensive action is inadequate given the new range of threats. Instead, the authors advocate forming a "composite force in all aspects related to national interest. Moreover, given this type of composite force, it is also necessary to have this type of composite force to become the means which can be utilized for actual operations. This should be a "grand warfare method" which combines all of the dimensions and methods in the two major areas of military and non-military affairs so as to carry out warfare. This is opposite of the formula for warfare methods brought forth in past wars." Implications As the authors state, the new range of options combined with the rising cost (both political and financial) of waging traditional warfare results in the rising dominance of the new alternatives to traditional military action. A state that does not heed these warnings is in dire shape. In popular culture The novels Foreign Influence, Full Black, and Act of War by Brad Thor are based on this book. Unrestricted Warfare is heavily referenced in the non-fiction 2019 book Stealth War: How China Took Over While America's Elite Slept. See also Assassin's Mace Chinese information operations and information warfare United Front Work Department Thirty-Six Stratagems References External links Full text of Unrestricted Warfare 1999 non-fiction books Chinese-language books International law literature Military strategy books People's Liberation Army Chinese information operations and information warfare Warfare by type