The Supreme Art of War is to Subdue the Enemy Without Fighting

The Supreme Art of War is to Subdue the Enemy Without Fighting - UPSC Mains Essay Paper 2025 (Section A - Question 2)

 “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." These words were penned by the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu, which have remained significant even today, transcending the battlefield to become a guiding principle for modern warfare and statecraft. The doctrine does not advocate for avoidance of conflict, but acts as a testament to the power of strategic superiority, where one’s political, economic, and diplomatic strength is so overwhelming that an adversary’s will to resist is broken before a single shot is fired. 

For a nation like India, with its unique history of non-violence and its aspirations as a rising global power, this ancient wisdom is not merely a theoretical doctrine, but a practical and multifaceted approach to navigate the complexities of the twenty-first century. This essay explores the concept's historical roots, modern applications, recent examples from India's geopolitical landscape, and the challenges assosiated, underscoring why subduing without combat remains the most important strategic excellence.

The essence of Sun Tzu's axiom lies in a holistic understanding of conflict. True victory is not measured by the number of battles won, but by the avoidance of them altogether. Sun Tzu emphasized knowing oneself and the enemy and then exploiting weaknesses of the enemy to gain strategic advantage. This requires a nation to possess a strategic toolkit that extends far beyond its military. It involves the cultivation of strong diplomatic ties, the leverage of economic might, and the projection of cultural and ideological influence, often referred to as soft power. The goal is to create a situation where a potential adversary finds it more advantageous to cooperate than to confront, thereby achieving one's objectives through peaceful coercion rather than armed conflict. In ancient India, Chanakya's Arthashastra (300 BC) advocated for sama (conciliation), dana(gifts), bheda (division), and danda(force) as various tools, with force being one of the method used when required. Chanakya's strategies of warfare and statecraft helped Chandragupta Maurya build an empire by forging alliances and sowing discord among rivals without fighting unnecessary wars. Similarly, Lord Krishna’s diplomatic mission in the Mahabharata, sought peace by appealing to reason and offering concessions, aiming to avert the Kurukshetra war. Though unsuccessful due to Duryodhana's ego, it illustrates the moral and strategic superiority of negotiation.

This philosophy also resonates deeply in India's historical and philosophical traditions. While military stregnth has always been a part of India's defence, its modern state has been shaped by the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. The method of non-violent resistance movement (Satyagraha) demonstrated the power of subduing a powerful empire without fighting it directly. Gandhiji’s campaign was a masterclass in moral and psychological warfare, turning the very violence of the British Raj into a tool against the mighty empire itself. One such example is the Salt March in 1930. Gandhiji walked 240 miles to the sea with followers to make salt, breaking British laws. This simple act showed the unfairness of colonial rule. No shots were fired, but it sparked protests across India. The British arrested thousands, but the world saw their cruelty. Slowly, the empire's hold weakened and India eventually gained freedom in 1947. This struggle inspired many in the coming times including the Martin Luther King Jr. in America.

In recent years, India has skillfully applied this doctrine to manage its most significant geopolitical challenges. India's Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic further exemplifies this. By exporting millions of vaccines to over 100 countries, including neighbors like Bhutan and Maldives, India bolstered its image as a soft power, countering China's "vaccine diplomacy" without confrontation. This soft power play not only isolated critics but also secured strategic partnerships, such as enhanced maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean. Another prime example is the prolonged military standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, which began in 2020. The deadly Galwan Valley clash initially raised fears of an all-out war. However, rather than escalating, India’s response was a calibrated mix of firmness and diplomacy. On one hand, it deployed thousands of troops to the border, demonstrating its resolve and readiness to defend its sovereignty. On the other, it engaged in an unprecedented number of military and diplomatic talks. These efforts were aimed at achieving disengagement and de-escalation without a full-blown military confrontation. By using sustained dialogue and a strategic forward military posture, India was able to protect its territorial integrity and compel China to pull back its forces from key friction points, a clear demonstration of subduing an adversary's aggressive intent without resorting to a larger, more destructive war.

Beyond the military sphere, India has also employed economic and digital statecraft as forms of non-kinetic warfare. Following the border tensions, India took a decisive step by banning hundreds of Chinese mobile applications, including popular ones like TikTok and WeChat. The government officially cited data security and national sovereignty as the reasons for the ban, but the move was widely seen as a "digital strike"—a powerful signal that India was willing to inflict economic costs on its adversary. This action hit Chinese companies where it hurt the most: their access to India’s massive and rapidly growing digital market. This was an elegant application of the ancient art of subduing the enemy without fighting, leveraging economic leverage to exact a strategic cost. Concurrently, the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, while aimed at economic development, has a strong strategic dimension. By boosting domestic manufacturing, particularly in critical sectors like defense and technology, the initiative seeks to reduce India's reliance on foreign supply chains, thereby insulating itself from external pressures and strengthening its strategic autonomy. Similarly, after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir, rather than launching a full-scale invasion, India employed a multifaceted strategy to subdue without escalating. Economically, New Delhi leveraged its doubled defense budget of $150 billion, forcing Pakistan to redirect scarce funds to military readiness, amplifying its financial crisis. The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty targeted Pakistan's agriculture-dependent economy, exploiting water scarcity as a pressure point. Diplomatically, India amplified evidence of state-sponsored terrorism via UN reports and media campaigns, isolating Pakistan globally and eroding its credibility. This episode underscores India's doctrinal shift toward "unrestricted warfare," blending economic, psychological, and cyber elements to win without fighting.

Finally, India's growing influence on the global stage is a powerful demonstration of soft power as a tool of strategic influence. As External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has articulated, India's foreign policy is shifting from being a passive observer to a "shaper" of the global order. India has taken the lead on issues of global importance, hosting a landmark G20 presidency that centered on the interests of the Global South and championing initiatives like the International Solar Alliance (ISA). By positioning itself as a leader in climate diplomacy and a voice for developing nations, India builds goodwill and strengthens its network of allies. This approach subdues potential adversaries not by force, but by weaving a web of interdependence and shared interests.

Sun Tzu's timeless words holds more weight today than ever before. For India, a nation navigating a complex multipolar world, the supreme art of war is a pragmatic blueprint for statecraft. It involves a sophisticated interplay of diplomatic firmness, economic resilience, and the projection of soft power. From the careful handling of border crises to the strategic use of digital and economic measures and the cultivation of a global leadership role, India is demonstrating that the most effective way to secure one's interests and ensure national security is often to win without ever having to fight. This is a strategy that honors its past while securing its future.