Classic Form: A wise general allows two of his enemies to fight and weaken each other, preserving his own strength. He delays intervention until all parties are exhausted, then steps in to seize victory from the survivors with minimal effort.
Modern Version: Actively fuel and amplify internal social and political conflicts within rival nations (the "fire") using information warfare. Then, while the target society is consumed by chaos, division, and self-doubt, advance strategic interests such as technological dominance and geopolitical expansion.
AI-Powered Execution: AI systems do not merely "watch" the fire; they are programmed to stoke it. Algorithmic amplification on platforms like TikTok is the key mechanism. The algorithm is designed to maximize engagement (likes, shares, watch time), and it learns that emotionally provocative, divisive, and polarizing content is the most effective way to do so. It therefore systematically promotes content that widens societal fractures. Furthermore, AI models analyze vast amounts of public data to predict the trajectory of social conflicts. A
decision agent can then determine the precise moment of maximum chaos to inject a specific narrative or execute a strategic move—such as a critical resource acquisition or a diplomatic maneuver—that will go unnoticed amid the turmoil. This process is fueled by AI-driven surveillance that maps a target society's psychological vulnerabilities, identifying the most effective wedge issues (race, gender, politics) to exploit for maximum social fragmentation.
CCP Application
TikTok as a Cognitive Weapon: The TikTok algorithm, controlled by its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, has been shown to create "ideological rabbit holes" that can rapidly radicalize users. It relentlessly pushes content that promotes social division, cancel culture, and "cognitive exhaustion" in the United States and other Western nations. Simultaneously, the domestic Chinese version of the app, Douyin, promotes nationalism, scientific achievement, and social cohesion. This is a direct and asymmetric application of the stratagem: let the enemy society "destroy itself" with algorithmically-fueled infighting while strengthening your own.
Fueling Division: CCP-backed influence networks use bots and fake accounts to amplify narratives around contentious issues like U.S. elections, race relations, and public health policies. The goal is not necessarily to support one side over the other, but to deepen societal fractures, erode trust in democratic institutions, and make consensus impossible.
Collaborators: Western social media influencers and media outlets that chase engagement by promoting "rage-bait" and divisive content, effectively serving as unwitting amplifiers for the CCP's cognitive warfare. Domestic political and activist groups that adopt and spread CCP-seeded narratives that align with their own agendas, further polarizing society and contributing to the "fire".
Counter: Treat social media platforms controlled by adversarial nations, like TikTok, as instruments of foreign influence and regulate them accordingly, including potential bans or forced divestiture. Invest heavily in media literacy and critical thinking education to build societal resilience against algorithmic manipulation and disinformation. The most powerful countermeasure is to foster national unity and focus on resolving internal divisions, thereby denying the CCP exploitable "fires" to watch and stoke. The CCP is weaponizing the West's own "attention economy" against it. The business model of social media, which prioritizes engagement above all else, creates the perfect environment for this stratagem to flourish. The CCP does not have to create all the divisive content; it simply uses its AI-powered platforms to amplify the content Westerners are already creating against each other.