We have been following the lethal pollution gripping Chinese cities, including now cities like Shanghai, with stories of children developing lung cancer and other medical problems. One benefit is that the rising levels of pollution have actually made it harder for Chinese police to use the country’s extensive surveillance system to monitor citizens. That is not something that the authoritarian government is likely to celebrate however. Now, the official media has come up with one benefit to offer its choking readers: the thick blanket of unhealthy air could make it more difficult for countries to bomb Chinese cities if they have a hard time finding them.
The story is being attributed to a Time Magazine translator who found an online article arguing that smog “can serve as a defensive advantage in military operations.” The article was later reportedly taken down. The article cited problems in Kosovo and other war zones when the military faced smoke that shielded targets. If that is the case, China is remarkably well protected and citizens can live shorter but more secure lives.