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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

‘You cannot lose if you do not have a goal’: the viral wisdom of ‘Don Tzu’

Ancient strategist Sun Tzu called for preparation and deep knowledge. His modern counterpart takes a different approach

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The character and the quotes jokingly attributed to “Don Tsu” have gone viral online, satirising the US president’s apparently unclear objectives in the conflict with Iran. Photo: Reuters
Jane Caiin Beijing

For millennia, the wisdom of Chinese strategist Sun Tzu has guided leaders.

His sayings, most famously collected in The Art of War, emphasise deception, careful preparation and understanding both your enemy and yourself.

“Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.”

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“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”

Today, a new master strategist has arisen, though his aphorisms emphasise careless blundering.

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“If you do not know what you’re doing, neither does your enemy.”

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