The film “The Farewell” portrays extreme indirect communication as family members withhold terminal illness news from their grandmother to protect her from worry. The characters use subtle lies and omissions, embodying the high-context communication style where what is left unsaidmatters more than direct speech. The family expresses love through silence and coded messages, showing how indirectnesspreserves harmony and avoids painful confrontation.
Taoist Implicit Wisdom
Taoist writings celebrate the power of the implicit, valuing what is unsaid or indirectly suggested over explicit instruction. This philosophical foundation champions subtlety, mystery, and natural flow in communication. Taoist classics like the Tao Te Ching advise embracing silence and indirectness as paths to understanding and harmony.
Confucian Philosophy
Confucianism promotes communication that respects hierarchy and social order, often favoring indirectness to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation. This is reflected in respect for elders and authority, and the use of modesty to express disagreement or critique subtly. Confucius emphasized that wise communication avoids harshness and instead guides through gentle suggestion and example.
Classical Chinese Literature
Classical Chinese literature often employs metaphor, allusion, and indirect narrative styles. Storiesuse subtle hints and layers of meaning rather than straightforward descriptions, inviting readers to interpret beyond the explicit text. Ancient poetry and historical narratives convey moral lessons and social critiques through symbolic imagery and careful wording, asking readers to “read between the lines.”
Cyber and Hybrid Warfare
China leverages cyber warfare and hybrid tactics that indirectly affect adversaries’ capabilities. Examples include targeting communications infrastructure and influencing populations through information campaigns instead of traditional military force. Disrupting underwater internet cables or influencing local opinion against US military presence demonstrates indirect military strategies.
slogan-saturated
No political culture is more slogan-saturated than China’s. When Xi Jinping stood before the United Nations (U.N.) in 2015 and declared China’s commitment to building a “Community of Shared Future for Mankind,” many Western observers heard a vague soft diplomacy platitude rather than a strategic signal. The slogan, however, functioned as a rhetorical trap, reframing China’s authoritarian model as morally legitimate and future-oriented while portraying liberal democracies as selfish and out of touch with humanity’s collective destiny.
“Three Warfares”
The People’s Liberation Army employs the “Three Warfares”: psychological warfare, legal warfare, and public opinion warfare. These tools aim to influence foreign governments, delegitimize opponents, and spread favorable narratives, shaping the battlefield long before actual hostilities. These warfares create a strategic environment to sap the enemy’s will and morale subtly and indirectly.
“Winning Without Fighting”
Chinese military strategy emphasizes indirect methods, avoiding direct confrontation by attackingweaknesses rather than strengths. Sun Tzu’s principle of “winning without fighting” guides the use of cyberattacks, misinformation, and psychological operations to undermine adversaries withoutopen conflict. The Chinese military uses psychological warfare and information operations to demoralize opponents and control narratives ahead of any traditional combat.
Diplomatic Discourse
Chinese diplomatic communication uses impersonal, institution-aligned speech filled with polite modality to express control and authority subtly. This euphemistic style aligns with cultural preferences for indirectness and relational harmony. Chinese foreign ministers frame diplomatic statements to avoid direct confrontation, using modal verbs to soften demands and maintain persuasive politeness.
Avoiding Public Apologies
In government and political communication, outright public apologies or attacking accusers are rare. The aim is to save face for all parties involved and sustain surface-level harmony, even amid disputes. During major crises like natural disasters or scandals, Chinese officials typically avoid public apologies, maintaining a tone of control and dignity.