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The Relevance of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War to Contemporary Maritime Strategy
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Avoiding Conflict
Sun Tzu’s concept of avoiding war by attacking strategy, or thwarting it, is very relevant
to the constabulary component of maritime strategy. The importance of protecting
economic resources played a critical role in the development of aspects of the Law of the
Sea, particularly the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The creep towards greater security
jurisdiction associated with EEZs may provide a method with which to restrict assess
to littoral regions. 71 This is a legal and peaceful method of keeping potential opponents
at arm’s-length. A number of maritime powers, especially the US, are opposed to such
measures, 72 but such objections have not stopped nations from attempting to restrict
military access to EEZs. 73 Any successful attempts to restrict navies from EEZs would
greatly restrict the ability of maritime powers to project power, and in no small way
would help achieve Sun Tzu’s ‘perfection’ of avoiding conflict.
Avoiding Strength
The Art of War’s indirect approach is an increasingly likely method with which to
attack the economic wellbeing of maritime nations. Today, uses of the sea such as
shipping, maritime trade and resource development are critical to many economies
such as Australia and Japan. They also have an increasingly international character,
and are therefore critical to global economic wellbeing. By damaging a maritime
nation’s economic life at sea by indirect means, the nation may not be able to continue
a military course of action, and be faced with a failure of strategy.
Liang and Xiangsui again provide a modern model of this, with their ‘combination’
method of using various indirect means to damage civilian infrastructure. 74 Although
not foreseen by Sun Tzu, modern maritime terrorists have attempted to take his indirect
approach a step further in their attacks on the MV Limburg, which was an attempt
to disrupt oil flows at sea. Protection of such assets as oil and gas infrastructure is a
crucial role in contemporary maritime strategy, and The Art of War again reinforces
the need for comprehensive intelligence to protect important assets, highlighting the
need today for whole-of-government management of such operations.
The Art of War and Politico-military Operations
It is in the final area of maritime strategy that The Art of War may have the most to offer in
original and comprehensive advice for maritime strategists. The politico-military arena,
or diplomatic role, is suitable for navies as maritime forces can move internationally
with ease, and hence project force in a number of diplomatic roles in support of higher
foreign policy objectives. Again, Till explains this diplomatic role as the main concepts
of presence, followed by coercion, which he divides into deterrence or compellence. 75
The presence of powerful maritime forces may help contain or deter a crisis, and at
the same time not be as escalatory as using land forces. 76 But using diplomacy in the