China’s EMP Threat Could Darken America’s Future

The threat posed by China’s potential to launch an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attack on the United States is becoming increasingly concerning. A recent report from the EMP Task Force on National and Homeland Security has highlighted the advancements China has made in developing super-EMP weapons. Dr. Peter Pry, the task force’s executive director, emphasized that China not only possesses these advanced weapons but also has protocols in place for a first-strike attack, despite their public denials.

China’s ballistic missile development program is the most active globally, according to the Center for Strategic International Studies. This is particularly alarming as China has reportedly used stolen U.S. technology to create high-tech weaponry aimed at the electric grid. Such advancements could potentially lead to a surprise “Pearl Harbor” style attack, causing a nationwide blackout.

The report by Dr. Pry outlines a sophisticated network of satellites, high-speed missiles, and super-electromagnetic pulse weapons that China has built. These could cripple the U.S. electric grid, disrupt critical communications, and even incapacitate the response capabilities of aircraft carrier groups. Furthermore, both China and Russia have fortified their infrastructures, while a High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) attack on the U.S. has been part of China’s strategic plans.

“China’s military doctrine closely associates cyber-attacks with nuclear HEMP attack, as part of a combined operation in what they call Total Information Warfare,” the report states. It further explains that cyber incidents, such as the June 2015 breach of federal agency computers, should be seen as potential practice for broader operations, including nuclear HEMP attacks.

The U.S. Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from EMP Attack warns that the interconnected infrastructure of the nation is highly vulnerable. “The physical and social fabric of the United States is sustained by a system of systems,” the Commission notes, emphasizing the potential for large-scale failures that could disrupt the electric power grid and societal functions.

The concept of an EMP is not new. In 1962, the Starfish Prime thermonuclear test created an EMP that caused electrical disruptions nearly 900 miles away in Hawaii. This historical example illustrates the extensive reach and impact such an event could have, even with technology from over half a century ago.

Today’s society is far more interconnected than in 1962, meaning the consequences of an EMP attack would be even more devastating. Beyond the electrical grid, communications, the internet, and possibly modern vehicles could be rendered inoperative. Generators, if functional, would quickly deplete their fuel supplies, and resupply chains for essential goods and services would be disrupted.

For a vivid depiction of the aftermath of an EMP strike, William R. Forstchen’s New York Times Bestseller, “One Second After,” offers a gripping narrative that can help readers imagine the chaos and challenges of life following such an event.

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