Distant Friendship Near Attack Strategy

Distant Friendship, Near Attack Strategy (远交近攻)

A geopolitical doctrine for systematic territorial expansion that prioritizes conquering nearby territories while maintaining peaceful relations with distant powers.

Core Principle

"Gain an inch and it is your inch; gain a foot and it is your foot" - territorial gains from nearby conquests are secure and defensible.

Steps

1. Identify the strategic center - Target the geographic "hub" that controls access to other regions
2. Befriend distant powers - Establish diplomatic relations with states too far to directly threaten
3. Isolate the target - Ensure nearby targets cannot receive external support
4. Conquer incrementally - Take nearby territories piece by piece
5. Consolidate before expanding - Integrate each conquest before moving to the next
6. Apply pressure on the center - Use controlled territory to pressure remaining targets