China's military has revealed a breakthrough on key weapons programs that could revolutionize the nature of war. Chinese scientists claim to have been successful in developing powerful lasers, electromagnetic railguns, and high-power microwave (HPM) weapons, capable of destroying enemy satellites.

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According to National Interest, Beijing's effort at developing these directed-energy weapons is aimed at neutralizing the US' strategic key advantage. The idea of space-based laser gun was first revealed by three researchers - Gao Ming-hui, Zeng Yu-quang, and Wang Zhi-hong - in the journal Chinese Optics in 2013.

The scientists described the development of these anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons as "very important" for future wars. "Among those weapons, laser attack system enjoys significant advantages of fast response speed, robust counter-interference performance and a high target destruction rate, especially for a space-based ASAT system," the paper said.

HPM systems, on the other hand, are capable of destroying electronic equipment, which are used in many combat systems these days including tanks, planes, radio, and satellites. HPM could also be installed on warships to intercept incoming missiles, Epoch Times noted.

The HPM initiative as well as other laser and electromagnetic weapons is part of the China's Assassin Mace (or Trump Card) program that aims to defeat superior opponents by disabling or destroying its technology.

"Whenever the China team used conventional tactics and strategies, America won - decisively. However, in every case where China employed Assassin's Mace methods, China was the victor," Michael Pillsbury, a Pentagon consultant, wrote in his book The Hundred-Year Marathon.

Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, disclosed the existence of the laser weapons last month and said that the new development could represent an overall shift toward "fifth generation warfare concepts."

Fisher also acknowledged that this fifth-generation weapons system is growing. Using this laser system, it would be easy for China to take down all satellites used to communicate with forces and conduct optical or electronic surveillance, he noted.

"We could very quickly become blind and vulnerable to Chinese strikes; and if we did launch our own strikes, these lasers could shoot down incoming warheads," Fisher added.