Recently, China Central Television (CCTV) released an animated video on social media showcasing the working principle of a new type of graphite bomb. This weapon is considered an important tool for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in asymmetric warfare scenarios involving potential conflicts with Taiwan. It aims to disable the enemy's power grid through non-kinetic means, thereby weakening its social, economic, and defense capabilities without causing large-scale destruction of infrastructure.
The graphite bomb works by releasing highly conductive carbon fibers or graphite powder, which cause short circuits in the power grid, leading to widespread power outages. The CCTV video demonstrated how the munition, launched from a mobile device, breaks down into multiple submunitions, covering an area of over 10,000 square meters, precisely targeting key power grid facilities such as substations and transmission lines. The design of this weapon avoids physical damage to core facilities like power plants, making it suitable for rapid deployment in subtropical rainy climates, although its effectiveness is limited by weather conditions, with high humidity and rain potentially rendering the graphite powder ineffective.
Compared to traditional kinetic weapons, the non-lethal nature of the graphite bomb makes it a "soft kill" weapon capable of disabling power systems within a short time. According to U.S. military experiences in Iraq in 1991 and 2003, as well as in Yugoslavia in 1999, repeated attacks can extend the duration of power grid failures and increase the difficulty of recovery for the enemy. The PLA may enhance the precision of the graphite bomb by integrating the Beidou navigation system, further optimizing its tactical effectiveness.
Taiwan's energy infrastructure is highly vulnerable, heavily reliant on imported energy, and its northern power grid depends on three key substations. According to a report by the South China Morning Post in May 2025, simultaneously attacking these three substations could lead to a 99.7% probability of power outages in the northern region, especially during peak periods such as typhoons or elections, when power outages could trigger cascading failures in other infrastructures. A June 2023 report by the Rand Corporation pointed out that Taiwan's economy and public resilience are highly dependent on stable electricity, and power outages would exacerbate economic difficulties and social panic.
The deployment of the graphite bomb complements the PLA's "gray zone" strategy. Combined with blockades, cyberattacks, and information warfare, this weapon can undermine Taiwan's command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems through non-direct confrontation. A July 2024 report by the Atlantic Council emphasized that power outages could cause emergency services, healthcare, water supply, and transportation systems to collapse, leading to social chaos and creating conditions for political and military decapitation operations.
The graphite bomb represents the PLA's strategic shift toward non-kinetic warfare, emphasizing the achievement of objectives without triggering full-scale war. 97% of Taiwan's energy and 70% of its food depend on imports; a 50% disruption of trade could trigger an economic crisis and social unrest. When combined with blockades and information warfare, the graphite bomb can force Taiwan to surrender without large-scale military confrontation through a "silent conquest."
CCTV's public release of the new graphite bomb marks a new phase in the PLA's asymmetric warfare preparations regarding the Taiwan issue. This weapon is not only a tactical tool but also a strategic component aimed at weakening the resolve of pro-independence forces in Taiwan through power grid failures, economic blockades, and information warfare. Although weather and technical limitations may affect its effectiveness, its synergy with the PLA's overall strategy cannot be ignored. In the context of tense cross-strait relations, the unveiling of the graphite bomb serves as both a technological demonstration and a psychological and strategic pressure on Taiwan, highlighting the importance of non-kinetic methods in China's unification process.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7542389054403281448/
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