Chapter 19 - Dragon’s Mind: The Chinese

Strategic View begins...

RECOGNIZING THE ‘MIRROR IMAGING’ PROBLEM

Basic human nature may indeed be the same all over the world, but

there are cultural differences which determine the attitudes, behaviour

and practices of any particular national group may adopt towards any

specific issue or subject. It is therefore necessary to understand the

underlying basics of the Chinese attitudes which influence their

strategic mindset. At the outset of this examination of the Chinese

strategic mind, an allowance needs to be made for one mistake that is

commonly made by analysts when studying other societies or armed

forces, and it becomes necessary to guard against by keeping an open

mind. This common mistake is that of ‘mirror imaging’, i.e., in this case

assuming that the Chinese attitude or response to a particular situation

is going to be the same as that of an Indian's. Even professional military

minds of similar length of experience in either nationality are likely to

come up with radically differing approaches in response to an identical

strategic or military situation. We may keep this in mind as a caveat.

EVOLUTION OF CHINESE STRATEGIC CONCEPTS



Strategic concepts in China have had a very long history of evolution.

As we have seen, the Han Chinese are both highly conscious of, and

also extremely proud of, their long history. Their leaders, in particular,

look back into their own history for valid examples to follow, even if in

modified or a modernised form. The period in their history which they

find the most relevant for their strategic thought today is the ‘Warring

States Period’, which lasted from 475 BCE to 220 BCE. They have

found through careful study that this period is most relevant to a understanding of the world situation today. We will therefore need to

look at the lessons they are drawing, the strategic decisions based

thereon, and how these may affect India and Sino-Indian relationships.

To be continued.....