What is grey zone warfare, mentioned by India’s Chief of Defence Staff recently?

Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Internal Security, Topic: Current affairs, Issue: Terms in news

Context: during Raisina Dialogue, India’s Chief of Defense Staff General said that “grey zone warfare” is the latest in informal warfare.

Grey zone warfare:

• A middle ground between direct conflict and peace in international relations,
• Involves activities like cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and proxy wars.
• Has historical roots but became more prevalent during the Cold War era due to nuclear deterrence.
• Less powerful actors to gain advantage over stronger adversaries often use grey zone tactics.
• Examples include Chinese military presence in the South China Sea and Chinese military actions against Taiwan.
• The US has also engaged in grey zone tactics, such as economic sanctions against China.
• Grey zone warfare poses unique challenges, as responses must be tailored to covert or indirect actions, avoiding escalation.