Last week, the US Army released a new version of its doctrinal warfighting manual which, among other things, lays out how it will fight China inside the First Island Chain. A key fact listed in the “How the Army Fights” document released on Oct. 7 acknowledges the People’s Liberation Army’s ability to deliver significant “counter-intervention [anti-acess/area-denial] frameworks” that can disrupt American forces attempting to approach the Western Pacific from the Continental United States, reported USNI News.

The Army is focusing on developing infrastructure to support forces within the First Island Chain with hardened command and control, in-theater logistics and adequate munition reserves, according to the warfighting guidance.