In the heart of classical Chinese political thought lies a powerful and haunting essay titled 《六國論》 (On the Six Kingdoms), written by Su Xun, a scholar of the Tang dynasty. Despite being nearly a millennium old, the text remains deeply relevant in the modern age, particularly in the context of global power competition and the intensifying trade war between China and the United States.

Su Xun’s essay analyzed the downfall of the six non-Qin states during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). He argued that their demise was not because the Qin state was militarily invincible, but rather because the other states failed to form a united front. Instead, they chose to appease Qin by ceding territory and offering concessions in hopes of buying peace. His warning is delivered in stark terms:

“今日割五城，明日割十城；諸侯之地有限，暴秦之欲無厭；奉之彌繁，侵之愈急，故不戰而強弱勝負已判矣。”
(“Today they cede five cities, tomorrow ten more. The lands of the feudal lords are finite, but the appetite of a violent Qin is endless. The more you offer, the more aggressive it becomes. Thus, without battle, the outcome between strong and weak has already been decided.”)

This passage is not merely a cautionary tale from history—it is a lens through which modern China views the present world order. In particular, it shapes Beijing’s approach to the escalating trade and technological tensions with the United States.

To Beijing, the current trade war is not a simple matter of economic disagreement—it is a high-stakes confrontation over national sovereignty, technological self-reliance, and the future of global power. The Chinese leadership sees an unsettling........

© The Spine Times