Building A China Strategy Starts By Answering These Questions

The book Chinese Characteristics makes many insightful and important observations. Based on our interactions with Chinese counterparts over a two-year period — as the Indo-Pacific Command’s director of strategy and policy and an Olmsted Scholar in Shanghai, respectively — we found timeless wisdom in many of Arthur Henderson Smith’s observations. The Chinese perception of time, their approach to political-military relations, and their messaging discipline is a reflection of their determined culture. In terms of time, Americans are impatient; the Chinese are not. In fact, the Chinese are patient to the point of obstinance. The Chinese take the “long view” and develop strategy that spans decades, while the United States operates within the temporal confines of bureaucratic inter-agency infighting, partisan politics, and four-year election cycles. Given these factors, what is the best strategy toward China in this decade and beyond? How can it be determined? To begin with, we believe we must question our perceptions and eliminate our biases regarding China. We then need to answer three fundamental questions in order to craft an effective and viable China strategy. Read More…