Examining the Global Impact of Chinese Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking has moved up the corporate ladder in recent decades. Whether the goal is to grow the business, increase profitability, reduce costs, or gain a competitive edge, the need for a strategic plan is widely recognized. The centuries-old Chinese strategic theories of Sun Tzu and Mao Zedong are being increasingly adopted to guide Western corporations and governments. But what exactly is Chinese strategic thinking, and what impact is it having on a global scale?

Sun Tzu and other Chinese strategists long ago realized that if you want to succeed in winning a battle, you must think, plan and act with the whole in mind. Sun Tzu spoke of controlling the wider environment rather than engaging in the direct confrontation of the enemy. This non-warlike approach to victory requires careful observation of the flow and flux of history, and the readiness to exploit any opportunity that arises.

Mao Zedong, on the other hand, developed the concept of guerrilla warfare. Mao believed that a small force of committed soldiers, who had an intimate knowledge of their local environment, could defeat larger enemy forces by focusing on surprise attacks, mobility and the use of effective tactics. This philosophy of mobilizing a few brave fighters to bring down a much larger force has been used with tremendous success in many conflicts around the world.

The Four Modernizations, launched by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s, was the next milestone of Chinese strategic thinking. This strategy of focusing on rural economic development rather than attempting to dominate the world was highly unusual for China, but nevertheless proved to be an effective approach. This strategy followed on from the Maoist guerrilla warfare methods, but added a more economic focus to the mix. The Four Modernizations became a model for economic development worldwide.

More recently, President Xi Jinping has taken Chinese strategic thinking to a new level. He has given a renewed emphasis to the notion of One Belt One Road, which proposes that China should be the dominant economic partner out of various regional alliances. Through this initiative China has become an important part of negotiations from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and from Russia to Argentina. The aim is to create massive trading networks that are mutually beneficial to all parties involved.

In addition to its economic impact, Chinese strategic thinking has also had a profound impact on global politics. President Xi has been leading a campaign to build strong relationships with countries around the world, particularly in Asia and Africa. This has resulted in diplomatic efforts to keep conflict at bay, most notably during the Sino-US trade conflict, and to build new economic and political ties. Chinese strategic thinking has also been applied to the country’s foreign policy, and its growing involvement in global affairs.

Chinese strategic thinking has been a major force in global business, politics and diplomacy. By adopting an approach that is focused on the whole rather than just the individual pieces, Chinese strategists have developed successful and innovative techniques that have been copied and used by others around the world. As China continues to expand its influence, it will be interesting to see what new strategies it develops in order to take its place on the world stage.
Moiz K. Malik @ Unsplash

<!-- Chinese strategic thinking, Sun Tzu, Mao Zedong, Four Modernizations, Deng Xiaoping, Xi Jinping, One Belt One Road, Sino-US trade conflict, global business, politics, diplomacy -->
Chastagner Thierry @ Unsplash