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Khmer Politics Alternatives Circle

~ Thinking outside the box about Cambodia

Khmer Politics Alternatives Circle

Monthly Archives: May 2019

36 Stratagems

28 Tuesday May 2019

Posted by KhmerPAC in Culture, History, Politics

≈ Comments Off on 36 Stratagems

My dear Kacvey,

As Cambodia has already started to be dominated, vassalized or colonized by China, it would be important that your students should be aware of the unsaid, unexplained or unrevealed Chinese thinking that could help them when coming face to face with the invaders or colonizers. To learn to understand the Chinese is the only way that would enable them to deal vigorously and intelligently with the Chinese that had studied and understood Khmer attitude and thinking long, long time ago.

The Chinese are using the tricks that their ancestors had taught them since time memorial, and every Chinese from high school up knows them by heart, thinks, reasons and behaves accordingly, both in planning and negotiating, and in critical moments.

The present era is that the Chinese have put in actual application what they have learnt all along; they do it to the world, and by extension to Cambodia with the help of US trade deficit and US largess on sciences and technology since the historical Richard Nixon’s visit in 1972.

The fundamental ideas are contained in a very ancient and classic text called “The Thirty-Six Stratagems” (三十六计) that illustrated a series of stratagems used in politics, war, and in civil interaction.

Kacvey, you can argue that since the essay is available in every book store, why making such a big deal? You have indeed a very valid point, but the issue is not about availability of the material, but the knowledge that the material is important and should be studied. A book that is open but unread doe not make the person holding it knowledgeable.

Below is the list of stratagems contained in the 6 Chapters of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, and the basis of that, your students could begin to study further and deeper their meaning under different forms, situations or circumstances, bearing in mind that the value is not in the literal meaning of each Chinese character or their combination into phrase or idiom, it rather is in the figurative meaning that is hidden in the pictograph of the Chinese language.

Chapter 1: Winning Stratagems 胜战计

  1. Deceive the heavens to cross the ocean 瞒天过海
  2. Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao 围魏救赵
  3. Kill with a borrowed sword 借刀杀人
  4. Wait at leisure while the enemy labors 以逸待劳
  5. Loot a burning house 趁火打劫
  6. Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west 声东击西

Chapter 2: Enemy Dealing Stratagems 敌战计

  1. Create something from nothing 无中生有
  2. Openly repair the gallery roads, but sneak through the passage of Chencang 明修栈道,暗度陈仓
  3. Watch the fires burning across the river 隔岸观火
  4. Hide a knife behind a smile 笑里藏刀
  5. Sacrifice the plum tree to preserve the peach tree 李代桃僵
  6. Take the opportunity to pilfer a goat 顺手牵羊

Chapter 3: Attacking Stratagems 攻战计

  1. Stomp the grass to scare the snake 打草惊蛇
  2. Borrow a corpse to resurrect the soul 借尸还魂
  3. Entice the tiger to leave its mountain lair 调虎离山
  4. In order to capture, one must let loose 欲擒故纵
  5. Tossing out a brick to get a jade gem 抛砖引玉
  6. Defeat the enemy by capturing their chief 擒贼擒王

Chapter 4: Chaos Stratagems 混战计

  1. Remove the firewood from under the pot 釜底抽薪
  2. Disturb the water and catch a fish 浑水摸鱼
  3. Slough off the cicada’s golden shell 金蝉脱壳
  4. Shut the door to catch the thief 关门捉贼
  5. Befriend a distant state while attacking a neighbor 远交近攻
  6. Obtain safe passage to conquer the State of Guo 假道伐虢

Chapter 5: Proximate Stratagems 並战计

  1. Replace the beams with rotten timbers 偷梁换柱
  2. Point at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree 指桑骂槐
  3. Feign madness but keep your balance 假痴不癫
  4. Remove the ladder when the enemy has ascended to the roof 上屋抽梯
  5. Deck the tree with false blossoms 树上开花
  6. Make the host and the guest exchange roles 反客为主

Chapter 6: Desperate Stratagems 败战计

  1. The beauty trap (Honeypot) 美人计
  2. The empty fort strategy 空城计
  3. Let the enemy’s own spy sow discord in the enemy camp 反间计
  4. Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy’s trust 苦肉计
  5. Chain stratagems 连环计
  6. If all else fails, retreat 走为上计

Your students should also be knowledgeable about the Chinese concept of “Tianxia” 天下  (or “All Under the Heaven”) that could be found comprehensively explained in the book “RENEWAL – The Chinese State and the New Global History” by Wang Gungwu 王賡武, a historian and professor.

Kacvey, please also warn your students that learning the above essay is like scooping up a bucket of water from the ocean of Chinese history and thinking, but like Laozi said in Chapter 64 of Dao De Jing 道德经: “A journey of a thousand leagues starts from where your feet stand”, 千里之行,始於足下.

Start the journey!

Quora’s Questions

12 Sunday May 2019

Posted by KhmerPAC in Issue

≈ Comments Off on Quora’s Questions

My dear Kacvey,

For your students to be able to think further outside the box, a posting is created and updated as more and more articles from Quora could be found:

Christopher Treshan Perera answered the question: What was Cambodia before the Cambodian genocide? What changed?
https://www.quora.com/What-was-Cambodia-before-the-Cambodian-genocide-What-changed

Kaiser Kuo answered the question: What was it about the 20th Century that created monsters like Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler and Mao?
https://www.quora.com/What-was-it-about-the-20th-Century-that-created-monsters-like-Pol-Pot-Stalin-Hitler-and-Mao

Brenna Saunders answered the question: Why did Pol Pot kill his people?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Pol-Pot-kill-his-people

Andrew Crawford answered the questions: Did the Cambodians create a very high civilization in Southeast Asia? Why is today Cambodia a poor country?
https://www.quora.com/Did-the-Cambodians-create-a-very-high-civilization-in-Southeast-Asia-Why-is-today-Cambodia-a-poor-country
Was Hun Sen of Cambodia a member of Khmer Rouge? Why does he have power?
https://www.quora.com/Was-Hun-Sen-of-Cambodia-a-member-of-Khmer-Rouge-Why-does-he-have-power

Philip Ford answered the question: How did Pol Pot come to power?
https://www.quora.com/How-did-Pol-Pot-come-to-power

Dave Turner answered the question: How can Pol Pot be compared with Hitler, Stalin or Mao?
https://www.quora.com/How-can-Pol-Pot-be-compared-with-Hitler-Stalin-or-Mao

Sinet Sem answered the question: Is Hun Sen a fair leader in Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/Is-Hun-Sen-a-fair-leader-in-Cambodia

Robert Wagner answered the question: Cambodia: Why was Pol Pot not killed after being deposed?
https://www.quora.com/Cambodia-Why-was-Pol-Pot-not-killed-after-being-deposed

David Krueger answered the question: Cambodia: Who is responsible for empowering the Khmer Rouge?
https://www.quora.com/Cambodia-Who-is-responsible-for-empowering-the-Khmer-Rouge

Alejandro Peralta answered the questions: What was the strategic purpose of Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-strategic-purpose-of-Vietnams-invasion-of-Cambodia
Would the Khmer Rouge genocide have happened if the US had won the Vietnam War?
https://www.quora.com/Would-the-Khmer-Rouge-genocide-have-happened-if-the-US-had-won-the-Vietnam-War

Namru Casterly answered the question: Were the Vietnamese invaders during the Cambodian-Vietnamese war greeted as liberators by the people of Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/Were-the-Vietnamese-invaders-during-the-Cambodian-Vietnamese-war-greeted-as-liberators-by-the-people-of-Cambodia

Salem Stanley answered the question: Cambodia: Why wasn’t the UN involved in the Khmer Rouge genocide?
https://www.quora.com/Cambodia-Why-wasnt-the-UN-involved-in-the-Khmer-Rouge-genocide

Gwydion Madawc Williams answered the question: Why did so many Cambodians support Pol Pot?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-so-many-Cambodians-support-Pol-Pot

Preston Ingalls answered the question: What is the solution to Vietnam war against Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-solution-to-Vietnam-war-against-Cambodia

Matt Jones answered the question: Kampuchea: How does ethnic cleansing committed by the Khmer Rouge regime affecting Cambodians today?
https://www.quora.com/Kampuchea-How-does-ethnic-cleansing-committed-by-the-Khmer-Rouge-regime-affecting-Cambodians-today

Trang Vu answered the question: Why did Vietnam invade Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Vietnam-invade-Cambodia

George McBride answered the question: Although Vietnam saved Cambodia from the vicious Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodians generally view Vietnam as the enemy. Why so?
https://www.quora.com/Although-Vietnam-saved-Cambodia-from-the-vicious-Khmer-Rouge-regime-Cambodians-generally-view-Vietnam-as-the-enemy-Why-so

Hoàng Nguyên answered the question: Has Cambodia recovered from the Khmer Rouge?
https://www.quora.com/Has-Cambodia-recovered-from-the-Khmer-Rouge

Suttichart Denpreuktham answered the question: Is Cambodia an imminent threat to Vietnam?
https://www.quora.com/Is-Cambodia-an-imminent-threat-to-Vietnam

LeRoy Duvall answered the question: What is it like to live in Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-live-in-Cambodia

Jacques Văn Khải answered the questions: Did Vietnam try to annex Cambodia and Laos after the end of the Vietnam War?
https://www.quora.com/Did-Vietnam-try-to-annex-Cambodia-and-Laos-after-the-end-of-the-Vietnam-War
Why did Vietnam occupy Cambodia for ten years after overthrowing the Khmer Rouge?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Vietnam-occupy-Cambodia-for-ten-years-after-overthrowing-the-Khmer-Rouge

Greg Moylan answered the questions: Cambodia: Why did China support the Khmer Rouge regime when ethnic cleansing was their main priority?
https://www.quora.com/Cambodia-Why-did-China-support-the-Khmer-Rouge-regime-when-ethnic-cleansing-was-their-main-priority
How did Pol Pot get away with war crimes?
https://www.quora.com/How-did-Pol-Pot-get-away-with-war-crimes

Nguyễn Khánh answered the question: Can we consider the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia as a war crime?
https://www.quora.com/Can-we-consider-the-Vietnamese-invasion-of-Cambodia-as-a-war-crime

Neil O’Connell answered the question: Why is Cambodia so undeveloped?
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Cambodia-so-undeveloped

Duc Thanh Nguyen answered the questions: Did Vietnam destroy Cambodia’s civilization and reduce Cambodia to a minor power? Did Thailand? Why?
https://www.quora.com/Did-Vietnam-destroy-Cambodias-civilization-and-reduce-Cambodia-to-a-minor-power-Did-Thailand-Why
When Hun Sen is removed from power, will Vietnam invade Cambodia again?
https://www.quora.com/When-Hun-Sen-is-removed-from-power-will-Vietnam-invade-Cambodia-again

Andrew Crawford answered the question: Is Cambodia politically stable?
https://www.quora.com/Is-Cambodia-politically-stable

Nguyen Huu answered the question: What is the relationship like between Cambodia and Vietnam?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-relationship-like-between-Cambodia-and-Vietnam

Andrew Dang answered the question: What are the reasons Vietnam doesn’t apologize to China and Cambodia for the war in Cambodia?

Oudom Thach answered the question: What good things did Pol Pot do?
https://www.quora.com/What-good-things-did-Pol-Pot-do

Adam Fayed, answered the question: Is life hard in Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/Is-life-hard-in-Cambodia

Julian Dalton answered the question: In Cambodia, how does religion influence politics?
https://www.quora.com/In-Cambodia-how-does-religion-influence-politics

Jianzhong Chen answered the question: Why was Vietnam condemned for removing the Khmer Rouge who were commiting genocide from power?
https://www.quora.com/Why-was-Vietnam-condemned-for-removing-the-Khmer-Rouge-who-were-commiting-genocide-from-power

Peter Topping answered the question: How come a small developing country like Vietnam can politically influence Laos and Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/How-come-a-small-developing-country-like-Vietnam-can-politically-influence-Laos-and-Cambodia

James Beck answered the question: How is Buddhism manifested in Cambodia’s political structure and laws?
https://www.quora.com/How-is-Buddhism-manifested-in-Cambodias-political-structure-and-laws

Banh Dau answered the question: Can China help Cambodia retake Southern Vietnam?
https://www.quora.com/Can-China-help-Cambodia-retake-Southern-Vietnam

Zhang Cheng answered the question: Why did Pol Pot attack a Vietnamese village in the Mekong Delta? Did Vietnam support Khmer Rouge coup against legitimate Cambodia govt before this?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Pol-Pot-attack-a-Vietnamese-village-in-the-Mekong-Delta-Did-Vietnam-support-Khmer-Rouge-coup-against-legitimate-Cambodia-govt-before-this

Sang Phan answered the question: Why is China building a lot of stuff for Cambodia but not for Vietnam?
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-China-building-a-lot-of-stuff-for-Cambodia-but-not-for-Vietnam

Jon Morris answered the question: What is the strangest thing you have seen or heard while in Cambodia?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-strangest-thing-you-have-seen-or-heard-while-in-Cambodia

Smilinger Zhang answered the question: Have China put Mr. Hun Sen to destabilize Cambodia, turn it upside down, make it under China control?
https://www.quora.com/Have-China-put-Mr-Hun-Sen-to-destabilize-Cambodia-turn-it-upside-down-make-it-under-China-control

Thang Luu answered the question: Since Cambodia was a neutral nation during the Vietnam war, why did Vietnam still invade them and used their land against US or South Vietnam?
https://www.quora.com/Since-Cambodia-was-a-neutral-nation-during-the-Vietnam-war-why-did-Vietnam-still-invade-them-and-used-their-land-against-US-or-South-Vietnam

Ananda Syahendar Perdana answered the question: What is the most Chinese-influenced country in Southeast Asia?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-Chinese-influenced-country-in-Southeast-Asia

Kounila Keo answered the question: Does anyone still support the Khmer Rouge?
https://www.quora.com/Does-anyone-still-support-the-Khmer-Rouge

Peter Topping answered the question: Why has Cambodia pursued a foreign policy much closer to China than have its neighbors?

Giao Vu answered the question: Why did Pol Pot kill over 2 million people?
https://www.quora.com/Why-did-Pol-Pot-kill-over-2-million-people

Surachai Jaturapattarapong answered the question: How do Cambodians view Vietnamese?
https://www.quora.com/How-do-Cambodians-view-Vietnamese

Daniel Mokrauer-Madden answered the question: Why is Pol Pot’s Cambodian revolution rarely taught in western history?
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Pol-Pots-Cambodian-revolution-rarely-taught-in-western-history

Umakant Singh answered the question: Whom does the U.S. President Trump support in Cambodian politics: the current Prime Minister Hun Sen, or the opposition leader Sam Rainsy?

Orlando Barrios answered to the question: How would Cambodia be different if the Khmer Rouge remained in power and was not overthrown by Vietnam and FUNSK (Khmer Rouge dissidents) in 1979?
https://www.quora.com/How-would-Cambodia-be-different-if-the-Khmer-Rouge-remained-in-power-and-was-not-overthrown-by-Vietnam-and-FUNSK-Khmer-Rouge-dissidents-in-1979

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