The Chinese Military's Strategic Mind-Set
Abstract
"Strategy" is a Chinese military term with thousands of years of tradition and culture behind it. In antiquity, the Chinese classified strategists according to four concept-categories: power and stratagem, disposition and capability, Yin and Yang, and technique and skill. This strong emphasis on strategic concepts can still be felt. By looking at several recent texts, especially "The Science of Military Strategy" (2001), one can arrive at some understanding of the Chinese military's strategic mind-set. It differs markedly from the methodology the United States +uses to develop its strategic thought. Sun Tzu and Mao Tse-Tung are probably the two most respected and quoted Chinese strategic philosophers and practitioners. Almost every bookstore in America has a copy of Sun Tzu's "Art of War" on its shelves, and even now, Western businessmen study Chinese strategic philosophy, including the 36 stratagems of war, to enhance sales and negotiation techniques. Military institutes worldwide study Mao's writings on guerrilla warfare. "The Science of Military Strategy," a compilation of essays by academicians at the Chinese academy of Military Science, examines Chinese military strategy from historical, cultural, and contemporary vantage points and captures the essence of Sun Tzu's and Mao's strategic thought. Peng Guangqian and Yao Youzhi, the book's editors, are major generals in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and are known for their thoughtful strategic analyses. This article compares Chinese and U.S. concepts of strategy, examines factors affecting military strategy in the two countries, discusses the science of strategy, examines strategy in the information age, and looks at the steps that Peng and Yao have taken to improve the theoretical system of Chinese military strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA493388
Entities
People
- Timothy L. Thomas