In recent years, the nature of warfare has changed significantly.
Low-cost equipment such as cardboard drones and handmade rockets have gradually emerged on battlefields in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Myanmar, playing an increasingly important role.
The rise of low-cost equipment marks a shift towards "cabbageification" of warfare.
So, why is this happening?
There are profound reasons behind this phenomenon. Firstly, with technological advancements, the production and usage barriers for equipment have lowered, and high-end technologies that were once exclusive to the military field have begun to spread to the civilian sector.
This not only reduces the cost of equipment but also makes it easier for smaller countries to acquire these technologies.
Secondly, with global turmoil, major powers, in order to maintain an advantage in international confrontations, have proactively shared some advanced military technologies with smaller countries.
Limited in resources, these smaller countries can only integrate these technologies into low-cost equipment for self-preservation.
Additionally, the global economic downturn has forced countries to cut military spending, making the search for more cost-effective military solutions inevitable.
However, this situation has put the United States in an awkward position.
On one hand, the advanced equipment developed by the U.S. at great expense is hard to sell on the international market, making it difficult to recover costs, which in turn affects its ability to continue developing new technologies, thus threatening its military leadership.
On the other hand, facing low-cost weapons used by anti-American forces, the U.S. finds itself in a dilemma:
To fight would be costly;
Not to fight would damage its prestige.
More complexly, the U.S. military industry is mostly in the hands of private capital, which, driven by profit, is accustomed to producing high-profit, expensive weapons. It is almost impossible to demand that they turn to producing low-cost equipment.
In stark contrast, China has long been prepared for this transformation in warfare.
Firstly, compared to the U.S., China’s cost of manufacturing equipment is extremely low, which means that investment in advanced technology does not pose a significant burden.
China has a strong industrial system and, by leveraging mature civilian market technologies and powerful production capacities, it can ensure the quality of military equipment while effectively controlling costs, achieving deep integration of military and civilian development.
Secondly, China's vast civilian market provides a broad platform for the civilian application of military technology.
Civilian technologies, through a wide market, develop rapidly and continuously provide innovative power for China's military technologies, ensuring China’s advantage in the field of low-cost weaponry.
The drone industry is a typical example.
In conclusion, the era of "cabbageification" of equipment has arrived, and the challenge of low-cost warfare is facing all countries.
China has long been ready to embrace this transformation.
As the old saying goes:
"The winds of battlefield change are rising, and low-cost equipment shows its might."
The U.S. finds itself in a predicament, while China has long been prepared.
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