Befriend distant states while attacking those nearby.
📜 Origin
《战国策》
💡 Detailed Explanation
"Yuanjiao Jingong" (Befriend distant states while attacking nearby ones) originally referred to a diplomatic and military strategy of the State of Qin during the Warring States period, namely, befriending distant states while attacking neighboring ones. It originates from "Strategies of the Warring States: Strategies of Qin III," where Fan Ju proposed this strategy to King Zhao of Qin, enabling Qin to defeat the six states one by one. Its deeper meaning is: in competition or confrontation, first ally with forces that are farther away and pose less threat, concentrate strength to eliminate nearby, direct opponents, and thereby gradually expand. It is mostly used in scenarios such as politics, military affairs, and business competition, describing a strategy of dividing and disintegrating opponents and defeating them one by one. In terms of cultural background, it embodies the wisdom of ancient Chinese political strategists, emphasizing geopolitics and the weighing of interests. In emotional coloring, this idiom often carries a derogatory or neutral connotation, implying scheming and calculation, and is sometimes used to praise a brilliant strategy, but more often refers to using any means to achieve one's goal. In modern times, it is often used as a metaphor for handling complex relationships by first stabilizing secondary opponents and then dealing with the main threat.
📝 Example
1. In its early expansion, the company adopted the strategy of "befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones," first cooperating with small overseas enterprises and then gradually swallowing up local competitors. (Referring to first making friends with those far away and attacking those nearby.)
2. In workplace competition, he used the tactic of "befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones," joining forces with colleagues from other departments to push out the most direct competitor in his own department. (Referring to uniting forces from afar to strike opponents close at hand.)