Sun Tzu was a Chinese military and philosopher, from the late 6th century BC, known for his book “The Art of War”, which is a compendium of thought and strategy based on his own experiences, which is considered key in military studies and , now increasingly, in political, economic and business studies. Although its origin, and even its actual existence, is disputed among historians, and there are questions about the book’s own authorship, opinions seem to be decanted mostly by the historical truth of the existence of the Sun Tzu and by its “The Art of War.” And, in any case, the book exists and its contents are undoubtedly not only of great interest, but a true guide to behavior to define strategies that allow winning a dispute, whether this war or not.
Mentioning Sun Tzu and his work seems to me to be very much the case in the trade and technological war started by the President of the United States against China. With very basic rhetoric and employing simple, traditional trade instruments, such as tariffs, or targeted bans, President Trump intends to bend the will and might of an emerging power, which he has behind thousands of years of political, economic and existential administration and management.
In the face of Trump’s new tariff slashed, China moves strategically after taking some time to demonstrate a will for dialogue and negotiation based on its own reality, which cannot be ignored. And then it hits where america really hurts the most, the money imbalance, but it shakes the financial and trade system and the balance sheets, which also affects the power of the north on several flanks. It’s that Trump’s negotiating tactics in the style of the old, wild far west, face a millennial culture of patience, meditation and effectiveness. So remembering Sun Tsu’s “The Art of War” is pertinent, and here’s a chosen sentence from his book: “Hit the enemy when it’s messy. Prepare against it when it’s safe everywhere. Avoid him for a while when he is stronger. If your opponent has a choleric temperament, try to irritate him. If he’s arrogant, try to foster his selfishness.” That’s very close, isn’t it?
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