Big Stick
In today’s Reuters article about the elections in South Korea, the newly elected President is quoted:
“It is better to win without fighting than to win in a fight, and peace with no need to fight is the best security," he said, referring to his country's often violent ties with rival North Korea.”
Reminds me of the oft cited Sun Tzu maxim from The Art of War: “For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”
It does not seem to imply peace at any price. John Sullivan in a nicely crafted article translates it as:
“Achieving victory in every [pitched] battle is not the height of excellence. Routing the enemy’s soldiers [before they have an opportunity to form orderly ranks] is the height of excellence.”
This twist implies early action. Surprise perhaps.
From the same Sullivan article:
“The Wuzi—another military text thought to be written by a famous general of this era, Wu Qi, and later codified along with The Art of War into the Seven Military Classics of Ancient China—describes the relationship between formation and battle through a description of the “four discords” of military operations:
If there is discord in the state, then you cannot deploy the army;
If there is discord in the army, then you cannot organize your formations;
If there is discord in your formations, then you cannot join battle;
If there is discord in battle, then you cannot achieve victory.”
I found this interesting, the linkage, from core operating capabilities, to success in the field. And a warning.
If the net result is an abundance of human, financial and physical loss to both sides, then a peaceful resolution in advance, becomes a net positive.
Sullivan closes his article, with an alternate proverb from Sun Tzu: “Do not depend on the enemy not coming; depend rather on being ready for him”
Sounds a bit like an all hazards plan, with it’s valuable ounce of prevention, and the simple expectation of trouble without it. Wisdom.
Reuters article about South Korean election:
Analysis of Sun Tzu’s text by John Sullivan:
https://thestrategybridge.org/the-bridge/2020/6/15/sun-tzus-fighting-words