Below I’m attempting to describe a possible cultural link to China’s strategic foreign policies. Not only is China rapidly taking over Asia, but it continues to pervade and permeate through other cultures and regions in a way that seems far too planned to be random.
In the ancient Chinese board game “Go,” the goal of the player is to use pieces on the board to encircle the opponent’s pieces while the opponent tries to accomplish the same thing. The player who encircles the most pieces wins the game.
It’s a game that’s been practiced in China for likely thousands of years. The Chinese have mastered it in real life too.
The forces at work in Beijing have spent decades consolidating power. China namely uses its vast infrastructure to surround its neighbors by inserting itself in a given region and using its resources to put a stranglehold on the area whether through dependence or sheer force.
The nature of these patterns might be culturally driven by deep rooted influences. From China’s oldest strategy board game to the writings of its most historical figures, these tactics represent an old tradition of takeover strategies that have influenced the country for likely thousands of years. The results are a strategy that is giving China a stranglehold in Asia. These time bombs are ticking. It looks like they’re preparing for war.
The Silk Road
One only needs to look the Silk Road project promoted by President Xi Jinping as “one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever conceived.” This relatively new project was started 10 years ago. It refurbished the ancient system of roads connecting China to Gwadar port on Pakistan’s south-west coast.
At first glance, the new road system might seem like a harmless way to connect poorer Asian countries to more developed countries to encourage trade. But sadly, the project was hardly an altruistic one.
The road system gives China access to a string of ports through the South China Sea, Arabian Sea and on to Africa that can be used by its navy. In wartime, this infrastructure could be vital for troop movement and deployment across Asia and beyond.
While China denies wartime preparation was their intention, it’s hard to imagine it being purely a coincidence.
In the meantime, Pakistan and surrounding Asian countries will use this system of roads and become reliant on it for further development. The gift puts a stranglehold on Pakistan to rely on China’s maintenance and involvement.
Although this happened 10 years ago, this project alone has given China a serious advantage in the region and likely represents groundwork laid for much larger objectives.
Insert. Surround. Wait.
Taiwan
Just because Taiwan hasn’t been invaded yet doesn’t mean China isn’t already pulling strings to control the country from the outside.
Beijing is quietly using “gray zone tactics” against Taiwan (not by choice, but because escalation might be too dangerous as opposed to a tempered approach). Indirect force is their weapon.
Sadly, indirect force might be all Beijing needs.
Just last week, 7 navy ships and 26 military aircraft were deployed by China surrounding Taiwan. While these decisions don’t represent a direct escalation, the goal is still obvious.
A lawsuit was recently filed suggesting that China is quietly trying to buy out Taiwan’s only broadcast network. Again, the goal of this purchase in Taiwan is obvious. To buy control of Taiwan’s media infrastructure to make a possible takeover easier.
Insert. Surround. Wait.
Preparing For War
Xi Jinping isn’t exactly keeping quiet about Beijing’s intentions to prepare for military conflict. They’re definitely planning for escalation to happen. Although it’s not exactly clear on what front it will happen.
According to Reuters, President Xi Jinping himself has told the military to prepare for a coming war by ramping up military force training. He has urged the military to deepen war and combat planning to increase the chances of victory in actual combat.
Although China’s plans aren’t known, they’ve made strategic decision after decision showing they’re ready for the consolidation of more power. Everything they’ve done so far shows they’re intent on expanding, infiltrating, and taking.
