Executive Summary

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and broader PRC state apparatus, in preparation for a potential Taiwan campaign, are applying at least three core principles found in Sun Tzu’s seminal work, The Art of War: the decisive use of overwhelming force, reliance on espionage, and the strategic manipulation of timing. A detailed understanding of the classic work could help limit surprise over China’s actions when Beijing finally moves against the island nation.

China’s sustained expansion of covert operations in Taiwan is evident in the surge in espionage indictments and arrests in 2024–2025. Specifically, it demonstrates an effort to degrade Taiwan’s readiness from within. Concurrently, Beijing’s rapid force buildup—including new carriers, amphibious assets, and extensive gray zone deployments—positions the PLA to achieve battlefield dominance. 

Finally, Beijing’s rhetoric surrounding a 2027 “readiness” goal, paired with accelerating operational milestones, reflects a deliberate use of timing. Timing acts as both strategic deception and coercive signal. This is consistent with Sun Tzu’s dictum to strike when the enemy is unprepared. These developments underscore a coordinated, multi-domain strategy to coerce or seize Taiwan, possibly before the anticipated 2027 timeframe.