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The Relevance of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to Contemporary Maritime Strategy
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Avoiding Strength and Manipulation
As applied to sea control and sea denial
Firstly, Sun Tzu’s overall strategy of Avoiding Strength, or using direct and indirect
methods, is reflected in a number of more modern concepts that relate to attaining sea
control or sea denial. Castex used the term ‘manoeuvre’, 51 and Friedman defines it as
manoeuvring ‘out of contact of the enemy’. 52 A modern Chinese interpretation of The
Art of War in Liang and Xiangsui 53 discusses a modern variant of Sun Tzu’s concept of
Avoiding Strength, 54 and argues both Nelson and Nimitz used this method of surprise
and indirect attack. 55 To complicate matters, The Art of War’s principle of Manipulating
the enemy by using deceit can be an adjunct to Avoiding Strength. Combined, they
produce a psychological effect that has a number of names today, such as ‘dislocation’, 56
manoeuvre warfare, or the manoeuvrist approach. 57 Associated directly with Sun Tzu, 58
this approach aims to dislocate the coordination and strength of an opponent, 59 and
Hughes argues the maritime environment is well suited to it. 60
Avoiding strength can also be used against those attempting sea control or sea denial.
The political will of casualty-averse nations attempting these becomes a target for
the indirect approach, as the expensive and valuable trained personnel involved are
vulnerable to loss and casualties. Also, the use of indirect means could also include
bypassing battle at sea. Instead, a fleet could be neutralised before sailing by attacking
its fuel reserves and manufacturing, or disabling it in port, as was attempted at Port
Arthur, Taranto and Pearl Harbor.
As applied to power projection
As with sea control, The Art of War is relevant for both those projecting force and those
opposing it. The indirect approach is highly suited to projecting power, as manoeuvre
can be used to bypass stronger defences, and place amphibious lodgments at weak
points that permit access to objectives. Australian strategy, as reflected in doctrine,
mentions Sun Tzu in describing power projection. 61 But due to the characteristics of the
littoral, the indirect approach is also useful in countering power projection. As well as
conventional attacks by submarines, aircraft and land forces, maritime forces involved
in power projection in the littoral are exposed to a number of more indirect threats
such as mines and terrorist or suicide attacks. Again, casualties in this environment
are likely, and again political will is very vulnerable in many nations.