China's historical grand strategy: defensive or offensive?

nlalyst

Junior Member
Registered Member
The main difference between China and Rome though is that for whatever reason, be it geographical or cultural, China was able to be reconstituted continuously in a clear line.
An important difference is that China was one of the cradles of world civilizations, whereas Greece/Rome weren't.

The Roman Empire left a lasting imprint on the European continent where it expanded into uncivilized or semi-civilized lands, whereas on the African and Asian continents it expanded onto lands whose civilizations were many thousands of years older than its own.

An interesting parallel is the Frankish invasion of the former Roman province of Gaul. The Franks were a Germanic people, but not long after conquering Gaul and establishing the Frankish kingdom (which gave the name to France) they completely assimilated into the Latin speaking people/culture of the land.
 

A potato

Junior Member
Registered Member
Well, I think China's real counter to Western Propaganda is best described by what's written in the Art of War: "知己知彼,百战不殆". China's entire domain of existence will take at least 200 years to be understood by today's Westerner World, if the cultural trend in Western Society and Academia remain what it is today.

I think most things that the West does in propaganda is essentially a waste of time. What's funny is that the things that the West put most attention and resources in are irrelevant and off-point, and what I would describe as "逆天逆道" in Daoist language.

By flaunting their wealth, achievements and social advancements at China, the West gave China one of the most important things She need : a vision for a better future, and thus strengthening the Chinese Raison D'Etre. They did this because they thought they can impress these Chinese enough that the Chinese would throw away their own identity and culture. This is even more stupid ancient Chinese flaunting their wealth, culture and social advancements at the nomad barbarians: it ONLY invites invasions and luting from the nomad. But at least the nomad has no country of their own, and they are vastly outnumbered by Chinese, so as soon as they decide to stay, they eventual became the new blood that revitalizes CHINA.

But the West can neither out-number, nor out-work Chinese, so what's the point of flaunting to the Chinese "I am mightier than thou"? Are they trying to absorb Chinese into their own society? What kind of a fool would think this is good idea? The only outcome would be Chinese looking at what impressed them the most from the West and try their best to replicate those. Whoever think that "once they Chinese admires and gets impressed by us, they will become us, they will be our followers, and we will win!" has got to be the most arrogant, self-absorbed and conceited people EVER. They doomed for defeat.

“祸莫大于轻敌,轻敌几丧吾宝, 抗兵相加,哀者胜矣” -- 《道德经》

As for the stupidity of the West, they only know how to use basic logic and rationality. They see Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, and they put down their money. We Chinese laugh laugh out ass off!

For Xinjiang: if even British Empire and the Russian Empire couldn't break Xinjiang out of the weak hands of the "Sick Man of East Asia" the Qing dynasty, what gave them the confidence that they could accomplish such today? For using Islam against China: Islam has a much longer history in China than they they have in Western and Northern Europe.

And Islam had NEVER won against China historically. Islam dominated India and the Middle East, they were on equal footing with the West. But with China, even a bunch of defeated Khitan in-exile was able bash the heck out of Islamic Central-Asians (read the history of the Qara-Khitai Khaganate)and form a great Kingdom in Central Asia. Islam has NEVER had any upper hand against China in history. This is because both China and Islam has many similarities to each other, thus denying Islam any intrinsic advantage when facing China. And it is also because China and Islam has enough differences to be able to work with each other, because both are confident that the other party has no way to destroying their existence (thus not an existential threat).

As for Uyghurs, the West really picked the wrong people. The Uyghurs/Turks might seem strong and threatening to the West, but they are sheep in front of China. This is not saying that they are weak. But simple because one man's kryptonite is another man's plain rock.
When was Uyghurs ever a threat to China? Uyghurs are the most harmless group to China historically. They are like the Swiss in Europe: mercenaries and farmers. They are NOT nomadic, NOR are they known for imperial aspiration. They are opportunists, hire-hands, always happy to serve the main power in China.

As for Tibet, that is even more so. Tibet has long ceased to be a challenger to China. The last time they were a challenger was during Tang Dynasty. Even since then they have lost their centralized imperial system, and balkanized into a priestly class divided by religious sects. They are like the main "Fire Wall" for China, protecting China from the Muslims from the subcontinent. They also provided the Tungstic Nomads a standardized/unified culture of Tibetan Buddhism, effectively depriving these nomads of their original war-like animistic/shamanistic culture, turning them into harmless religious hermits of a people (thus benefiting the Han Chinese the most).

Hong Kong is a servant colony. They have NO aspiration for Empire. They CANNOT form any real threat to China. The mindset is no different from a hungry baby, throwing a tantrum just to get more milk from Mother.

Why on earth would the West EVER invest their resources on such hapless groups? If they had any chance, EVER, they would have dominated China in history!

This whole thing is mind boggling to me.
Also didn't the Tang and tibetan King said Hans and Tibetans are one people.
 

TK3600

Captain
Registered Member
Well, I think China's real counter to Western Propaganda is best described by what's written in the Art of War: "知己知彼,百战不殆". China's entire domain of existence will take at least 200 years to be understood by today's Westerner World, if the cultural trend in Western Society and Academia remain what it is today.

I think most things that the West does in propaganda is essentially a waste of time. What's funny is that the things that the West put most attention and resources in are irrelevant and off-point, and what I would describe as "逆天逆道" in Daoist language.

By flaunting their wealth, achievements and social advancements at China, the West gave China one of the most important things She need : a vision for a better future, and thus strengthening the Chinese Raison D'Etre. They did this because they thought they can impress these Chinese enough that the Chinese would throw away their own identity and culture. This is even more stupid ancient Chinese flaunting their wealth, culture and social advancements at the nomad barbarians: it ONLY invites invasions and luting from the nomad. But at least the nomad has no country of their own, and they are vastly outnumbered by Chinese, so as soon as they decide to stay, they eventual became the new blood that revitalizes CHINA.

But the West can neither out-number, nor out-work Chinese, so what's the point of flaunting to the Chinese "I am mightier than thou"? Are they trying to absorb Chinese into their own society? What kind of a fool would think this is good idea? The only outcome would be Chinese looking at what impressed them the most from the West and try their best to replicate those. Whoever think that "once they Chinese admires and gets impressed by us, they will become us, they will be our followers, and we will win!" has got to be the most arrogant, self-absorbed and conceited people EVER. They doomed for defeat.

“祸莫大于轻敌,轻敌几丧吾宝, 抗兵相加,哀者胜矣” -- 《道德经》

As for the stupidity of the West, they only know how to use basic logic and rationality. They see Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, and they put down their money. We Chinese laugh laugh out ass off!

For Xinjiang: if even British Empire and the Russian Empire couldn't break Xinjiang out of the weak hands of the "Sick Man of East Asia" the Qing dynasty, what gave them the confidence that they could accomplish such today? For using Islam against China: Islam has a much longer history in China than they they have in Western and Northern Europe.

And Islam had NEVER won against China historically. Islam dominated India and the Middle East, they were on equal footing with the West. But with China, even a bunch of defeated Khitan in-exile was able bash the heck out of Islamic Central-Asians (read the history of the Qara-Khitai Khaganate)and form a great Kingdom in Central Asia. Islam has NEVER had any upper hand against China in history. This is because both China and Islam has many similarities to each other, thus denying Islam any intrinsic advantage when facing China. And it is also because China and Islam has enough differences to be able to work with each other, because both are confident that the other party has no way to destroying their existence (thus not an existential threat).

As for Uyghurs, the West really picked the wrong people. The Uyghurs/Turks might seem strong and threatening to the West, but they are sheep in front of China. This is not saying that they are weak. But simple because one man's kryptonite is another man's plain rock.
When was Uyghurs ever a threat to China? Uyghurs are the most harmless group to China historically. They are like the Swiss in Europe: mercenaries and farmers. They are NOT nomadic, NOR are they known for imperial aspiration. They are opportunists, hire-hands, always happy to serve the main power in China.

As for Tibet, that is even more so. Tibet has long ceased to be a challenger to China. The last time they were a challenger was during Tang Dynasty. Even since then they have lost their centralized imperial system, and balkanized into a priestly class divided by religious sects. They are like the main "Fire Wall" for China, protecting China from the Muslims from the subcontinent. They also provided the Tungstic Nomads a standardized/unified culture of Tibetan Buddhism, effectively depriving these nomads of their original war-like animistic/shamanistic culture, turning them into harmless religious hermits of a people (thus benefiting the Han Chinese the most).

Hong Kong is a servant colony. They have NO aspiration for Empire. They CANNOT form any real threat to China. The mindset is no different from a hungry baby, throwing a tantrum just to get more milk from Mother.

Why on earth would the West EVER invest their resources on such hapless groups? If they had any chance, EVER, they would have dominated China in history!

This whole thing is mind boggling to me.
Why, by your logic western country should fund Mongolian and Dongbeiren who had most success against Chinese, most imperial ambition, and had plenty of time not in China proper?

Also I disagree with the western propaganda being not threatening. It created a series of white worshiper occupying high position. The color revolution 六四was the closest to a game over for CPC since PRC foundation. Religion brought a more disasterous civil war than WWI. All are western subversions. Their actual naval invasion was more tame compared to that. Xi jinping himself identified this subversion as one of the top threat prior to becoming president.
 
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