Classic Form: In a multi-polar world, alliances with distant states are more stable than with immediate neighbors, with whom you are likely to have territorial disputes. The stratagem is to form alliances with those far away to isolate and create a multi-front strategic dilemma for your primary, nearby rival.
Modern Version: Cultivate strong economic and diplomatic ties with countries in Africa, Latin America, and even parts of Europe to strategically encircle and isolate the United States and its key regional allies like Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines.
AI-Powered Execution: AI systems are used for strategic diplomatic and economic analysis. They process vast amounts of data on trade flows, voting patterns at the UN, and media sentiment to identify "distant states" (e.g., non-aligned nations, or niche but influential political groups) that feel neglected by the primary adversary (the U.S.). The AI then helps craft tailored offers of partnership, investment, and technological aid that are most likely to be accepted, effectively building a global alliance network to isolate the "near" enemy. This involves presenting a system as a form of global cooperation (e.g., on climate or health) while installing behavioral firewalls inside the target's culture.
CCP Application: The CCP aggressively pursues its Belt and Road Initiative in Africa and Latin America, building ports, railways, and telecommunications networks. This "friendship" with distant states provides Beijing with access to critical resources, strategic locations for potential military bases, and a reliable voting bloc in international organizations like the UN. This global network is then used to isolate and apply pressure on its "neighbors"—not just geographically, but ideologically. While building a port in Peru, the CCP can simultaneously conduct aggressive military drills around Taiwan and use its influence at the UN to block resolutions critical of its human rights record.
Collaborators: UN agencies, NGOs, and politicians in developing nations who are bought off with lucrative infrastructure deals and development loans, turning a blind eye to the strategic implications of their partnerships with Beijing.
Counter: Re-engage and strengthen regional alliances. Do not dismiss or ignore the CCP's moves in distant theaters; recognize that these are part of a global encirclement strategy that will eventually circle back to impact core interests. Offer credible, transparent, and sustainable alternatives to the CCP's debt-trap diplomacy.