Photo/Illutration U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30. (REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

The United States plays chess, while China plays go.

This well-known metaphor was popularized by Henry Kissinger (1923–2023), the long-time architect of America’s Realpolitik-driven foreign policy.

As the former U.S. secretary of state who played a pivotal role in normalizing relations between Washington and Beijing, Kissinger explored in depth the strategic differences between the two great powers in his memoirs.

What, then, are the key differences between chess and go, the ancient and profoundly intricate game of strategy? Kissinger explained that the former favors short-term, decisive battles, while the latter embraces prolonged, patient contests.

In chess, players capture their opponent’s pieces one by one, seeking victory by checkmating the king—that is, by destroying the enemy’s center of gravity.

Go, by contrast, is a game of strategic encirclement and incremental advantage, where players aim to claim and secure the spaces their opponent might otherwise occupy.

The outcome in chess—win or lose—is always clear, whereas in go, who is truly ahead often remains elusive until the very end.

With the rise of U.S. President Donald Trump, some observers have remarked that America is no longer playing chess but poker.

The comment is not simply a play on his name, Trump, but a jab suggesting that his style of statecraft relies heavily on bluffing and intimidation.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in South Korea on Oct. 30. During the second Trump administration, the confrontation between the two countries saw the United States launch an offensive using tariffs as its weapon of choice, while China countered with its own trump card—rare earths.

Apparently, both sides’ tactical maneuvers had their effect. The two superpowers now seem to have decided to sheathe their swords and settle for a temporary truce. After the talks, the two leaders exchanged faint smiles and shook hands.

Even so, the underlying strategic dynamics of the confrontation are preserved. Japan now faces the pressing question of what kind of strategy it should pursue amid the complex foreign policy challenges created by this entrenched rivalry.

Relying solely on its alliance with the United States and drawing rigid lines between friend and foe in a Cold War mindset is perilous. An Othello-style game of black and white only deepens global division.

Caught between an allied superpower and a vast, formidable neighbor, Japan must seek a more flexible equilibrium.

Chess, go, poker, Othello—perhaps I have relied too heavily on game metaphors to discuss foreign policy.

Incidentally, my favorite is shogi, the Japanese form of chess in which captured pieces can return to the board and a humble pawn can transform into a more powerful “tokin,” a promoted piece that moves like a "kinsho" gold general.

—The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 31

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.