War with Russia Wargames: The Untold Story of World War III Scenarios in Asia
During the Cold War, while Europe's Central Front was deemed the likely decisive battleground between the US and the Soviet Union, actual conflict unfolded in Asia through proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam. This article examines the lesser-studied scenario of a potential World War III in East Asia, drawing on Naval War College war games from the 1970s and 1980s.
Both the Soviets and the Americans had options in Asia. The strategic environment was far more fluid than in Europe, allowing a variety of different choices to disrupt and destabilize the opponent. This made the course of war far less predictable. At its (nonnuclear) worst, war could have raged across Asia on multiple fronts, from Korea to Japan to the Sino-Soviet border. At its best, the combatants might have observed an uneasy quiet, at least until it became necessary to outflank a stalemate in the West. But as was the case in Europe, everyone concerned is fortunate that tensions never led to open combat.
About the Author: Dr. Robert Farley
Robert Farley, a frequent contributor to the National Interest, is author of The Battleship Book. He serves as a senior lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky. His work includes military doctrine, national security and maritime affairs. He blogs at Lawyers, Guns and Money, Information Dissemination and the Diplomat.
