Assassin's Maces

A class of asymmetric military technologies developed by China to disrupt or neutralize the technological superiority of more advanced adversaries, particularly in the digital and cyber domains.

Originally a term from Chinese folklore and martial arts referring to a hidden or decisive weapon, “Assassin’s Mace” now describes a range of strategic and tactical capabilities intended to deliver a disproportionate advantage in conflict. In cybersecurity and digital infrastructure contexts, these tools are designed to exploit vulnerabilities in critical systems—such as communication networks, satellites, and power grids—often using relatively inexpensive means to undermine high-value assets.

Examples include high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) weapons, tactical EMP systems, anti-satellite (ASAT) missiles, subsea cable-cutting tools, and AI-enabled cyber operations. These weapons target the foundational layers of digital infrastructure through both physical and electronic means, enabling China to pursue information-centric warfare strategies that can disable or degrade an adversary’s digital command, control, and communication capabilities. Often compared to a "silver bullet," an Assassin’s Mace is defined by its ability to deliver decisive impact with stealth, speed, and cost efficiency.

China’s underwater fiber optic cable cutters represent a critical and covert component of its “Assassin’s Mace” strategy, aimed at disrupting global digital infrastructure. These specialized tools are capable of operating at depths exceeding 4,000 meters—twice the typical depth of most subsea cables—and are mounted on both manned and unmanned submersibles. Designed to sever the vital arteries of the internet, these systems target the 99% of intercontinental data traffic that relies on undersea cables, potentially crippling financial transactions, communication networks, and military coordination. Reports of frequent cable disruptions near Taiwan, along with China’s development of “anchor cutter” devices, highlight the growing threat to the physical layer of the global internet. This capability allows for low-visibility, high-impact attacks that align with asymmetric warfare doctrine, undermining digital connectivity without direct military confrontation.