East Meets West: An Ancient Game Sheds New Light on US-Asian Strategic Relations

Abstract

Abstract It is widely shared that Pacific Asia is emerging as the powerhouse of the 21st century. This region has the enduring Sinic culture that holds profound philosophical, political, and strategic thoughts that set the nations in this region apart from the rest of the world community, especially the US-led West. The United States seeks to establish a strategic edge and productive relations with the nations in this region. For this foreign policy to bear fruit, the United States must, among other things, follow Sun Zi's advice to learn more about Asian society. In one particular aspect, the United States will be better served to supplement its traditional Western approach, one that is under the influence of poker- and chess-like logic, with a wei qi-based Asian strategy of international relations. A little knowledge of the ancient board game wei qi will take US national leaders a long way in achieving the US foreign policy objectives. The game of wei qi is a significant part of many Asian cultures and ...