DEF CON 32 - Tough Adversary Don’t Blame Sun Tzu - Gregory Carpenter, DrPH

China and Russia prioritize non-kinetic, psychologically driven strategies rooted in historical grievances against the West, using control of language and meaning as a core element of information warfare. Both nations embed historical philosophy—such as Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Ma Teng’s Three Strategies in China, and the Slavophile-Westernizer conflict in Russia—into military and state doctrine to shape global perception and assert strategic influence.

Key Takeaways:
• Chinese military education emphasizes seven military classics, including The Book of Swindles, teaching manipulation of perception and behavior 2:30.
• The Chinese National Defense University prioritizes information warfare over kinetic conflict, with Sun Tzu and Ma Teng’s philosophies directly linked to national strategy and public influence 3:48.
• Russia’s information strategy evolved from the Slavophile-Westernizer conflict, Cold War propaganda, and post-1990s internal focus, with Pravda establishing long-term narrative control 15:02.
• Both nations use psychological operations to justify strategic narratives by leveraging historical trauma from Western actions 18:26.
• Chinese operations are stealthy and multilingual (e.g., using Russian language settings), while Russian efforts are strategic and resource-constrained, directly tied to national objectives 21:10.

Information control is central to national sovereignty for both China and Russia, with historical grievances serving as the foundation for shaping global narratives and strategic behavior.

Sources:

• 2:30 Overview of Chinese military classics and their influence on strategy