Does Sun Tzu\u27s The Art of War influence China\u27s military behavior? A case study of the 1962 Sino-India War

摘要

This study has been developed to test the feasibility of using Sun Tzu\u27s The Art of War to analyze and predict China\u27s future military behavior. The author systematically introduces Sun Tzu\u27s teachings as contained in his book, lists expectations of the Chinese army\u27s performance in the 1962 Sino-Indian War under the assumption that it was influenced by the thoughts expressed in The Art of War, and compares what actually happened in that war with these expectations. Most of the expectations were borne out in the actual war, and this indicates that the thoughts expressed in The Art of War could possibly be used as a practical tool for penetrating Beijing\u27s military thoughts.