Description
Understanding the philosophical significance of maritime strategy is crucial for a nation seeking to develop a distinct and contextually relevant approach to maritime power. Throughout history, influential military theorists such as Sun Tzu, Thucydides, Chanakya, Jomini, Machiavelli, Clausewitz, and Mahan have contributed to the formation of enduring strategic paradigms. Among these thinkers, Sunzi's Art of War, inscribed on thirteen bamboo strips approximately 2,500 years ago and comprising 6,071 characters, stands as a foundational text in Chinese military thought. Historically safeguarded by ancient Chinese kingdoms, this compendium of strategic wisdom, authored by Sunzi in the State of Qi (770–476 BC), continues to inform contemporary state-level strategic planning, including aspects of maritime affairs. Despite the prevailing influence of Western Mahanian concepts in global maritime discourse, China has increasingly sought to draw upon its own indigenous traditions, particularly the Art of War, in framing its maritime strategy. This paper explores the applicability of Sunzi's principles to China's contemporary maritime strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. Particular attention is given to how ancient strategic thought informs contemporary patterns of cooperation and contestation through instruments such as maritime militias, strategic port development, maritime presence operations, artificial island construction, and legal warfare (lawfare). The research addresses a significant issue: the necessity of understanding how non-Western strategic philosophies influence maritime behaviour and strategic interactions within the contemporary geopolitical environment. Employing both descriptive and analytical methodologies, this study utilises secondary sources encompassing historical texts, books, journals, and policy documents. Preliminary findings point to a distinctly Chinese model of maritime strategy rooted in classical philosophy and adapted to modern objectives. The study argues that this strategic approach has important implications for regional cooperation, maritime governance, connectivity, and strategic competition among states of the Global North and South across the Indo-Pacific. The ongoing research will further assess its practical implications and its impact on the evolving maritime order of the Indo-Pacific.