We must interpret the principles of Sun Tzu’s Art Of War in its Contemporary form. Sort out disputes with your neighbors first, seems to be the lesson of the modern times. The GCC failed to sort out issues with its neighbors for decades, and despite their exponential growth, today, sitting on the cusp of environmental challenge, if in case Bushehr Plant is subjected to a Leak; and then, even the GCC can’t escape such crisis, even if Persia is defeated. The same case is applicable for every Nation across World.
The one who is nearby bear the burns’, more than the one who’s sitting Oceans’ apart. You may lecture anyone from afar, how and what to do in life, but, you can’t understand, unless and until, wear and walk into the same shoes of someone you’re lecturing, to understand the core issues. Yes, some may be made up. Some may be genuine. Some may be manufactured. Some may be due to the administrative or political ill-will or deficiencies or corruption. Some maybe religious. And some, due to global upheaval. That’s why, evolution is necessary to be learnt. As why & what happens, if an event is triggered or subjected to change! Artificial, Divine, or, Man Made!
Indeed, disputes are real, and sometimes maybe deadlier. Not denying this fact! And this is also true that some things can only be sorted out with fights! Now, those fights could be addressed vide Courts, or, at the Borders. While some can be addressed at the Diplomatic level. But this is also true that Habits & Traits never change! So, even if you sort out the issues today, it will grow back again time down the line. YET, it is always better to sort out issues with your neighbours first, than, to fight a battle or war, of or for, oceans apart. Because, at the end of the day, whether it is Bushehr Plant or Chernobyl, the neighbors would get more affected.
Therefore, it won’t be surprising to see if in case Taiwan, alike Hong Kong, would choose the alliance of China, rather than going for WAR with it, irrespective of whether Taiwan has an upper edge in the war or not, for the reason that, Missiles can fly anywhere, and that will eventually destroy the economic infrastructure of Taiwan as well, which if in case is compounded, irrespective of whether Taiwan wins a WAR or Not, it will take decades for it to re-build that infrastructure, which won’t be that easy to achieve in the present economic modern era!
Because after Persia, next battle maybe is with Türkiye. Everyone knows it!
© Pranav Chaturvedi 2026