The Chinese Military Buildup and The Art of War

UK Telegraph - China preparing for armed conflict 'in every direction'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/...-direction.html

QUOTE

"In the coming five years, our military will push forward preparations for military conflict in every strategic direction," said (defence minister) Liang Guanglie in an interview published by several state-backed newspapers in China. "We may be living in peaceful times, but we can never forget war, never send the horses south or put the bayonets and guns away," Mr Liang added.
...
Mr Liang's remarks come at a time of increasingly difficult relations between the Chinese and US armed forces which a three-day visit by his counterpart Robert Gates is intended to address.
...
Gates warned that China's new weapons, including its carrier-killing missile, "threaten America's primary way to project power and help allies in the Pacific", underscoring the difficulties that lie ahead as China and the US seek to contain growing strategic frictions.
...
"The modernisation of the Chinese military cannot depend on others, and cannot be bought," Mr Liang added, "In the next five years, our economy and society will develop faster, boosting comprehensive national power. We will take the opportunity and speed up modernisation of the military."

SUN-TZU: THE PRINCIPLES OF WARFARE "THE ART OF WAR"
http://www.sonshi.com/sun1.html

Chapter One: Calculation
Warfare is a great matter to a nation; it is the ground of death and of life; it is the way of survival and of destruction, and must be examined.

Therefore, go through it by means of five factors; compare them by means of calculation, and determine their statuses:
(1) The Way (public opinion) (2) Heaven (the weather) (3) Ground (the terrain) (4) General (the leadership) (5) Law (discipline)

All these five no general has not heard; one who knows them is victorious, one who does not know them is not victorious.
A general who listens to my calculations, and uses them, will surely be victorious, keep him; a general who does not listen to my calculations, and does not use them, will surely be defeated, remove him.

Calculate advantages by means of what was heard, then create force in order to assist outside missions.

Before doing battle, in the temple one calculates and will win, because many calculations were made; before doing battle, in the temple one calculates and will not win, because few calculations were made; many calculations, victory, few calculations, no victory, then how much less so when no calculations?

By means of these, I can observe them, beholding victory or defeat!

Chapter Seven: Armed Struggle
The general receives his commands from the ruler, assembles the troops, mobilizes the army, and sets up camp.
There is nothing more difficult than armed struggle.

Chapter Eight: Nine Changes
So the principles of warfare are:
Do not trust that the enemy isn't coming. Trust your readiness to meet him.
Do not depend on the enemy not attacking, but depend on our position that cannot be attacked.

I could go on and on about Sun Tzu and the behavior of the Chinese leadership - the point is: The Art Of War is their play book and thus they are always seeking ways to win in battle according to Sun Tzu's calculations. When their calculations assure them of victory - expect them to act as it is written "like a streaking rabbit".