Which PLA view holds deception as integral to operations and traces to Sun Tzu's saying that all warfare is based on deception?

• A. Deception
• B. Three Warfares
• C. CNP
• D. Informationized Battlefield

Answer: (A)

Deception is treated as a core method in PLA operations, reflecting Sun Tzu’s assertion that all warfare relies on deception. In PLA doctrine, deception isn’t just a single trick; it weaves through planning and execution to create surprise, mislead the enemy’s assessment of strength and intent, and disrupt their decision cycle. Practically, this means using feints, decoys, concealment, and misleading information to shape the enemy’s tempo and force them into costly mistakes, all while keeping your own true posture hidden or misrepresented until the moment of payoff.

This emphasis sits at the heart of how operations are conceived and carried out, aiming to gain initiative and reduce risk through misdirection. By contrast, the other concept focuses on shaping how opponents think and feel across political and informational domains, rather than viewing deception as an integral, in-operations tactic. The informationized battlefield centers on leveraging networks and tech to win through data and connectivity, not primarily on deception as a foundational method. A broader national-power framework looks at overall strength, not the tactical or operational principle of deception itself.