by Kunyang Li and Zhuo Liang
Abstract: Traditional Chinese Minben thought profoundly shaped the philosophy of warfare in ancient China. Diverging from the nation-state and ethnic consciousness that characterized early European history, the ancient Chinese worldview regarded the entire populace under Tianxia as an indivisible unity. Accordingly, the highest objectives of conflict were understood as bringing security to the people and benefiting the people, principles that permeated the entire spectrum of a just war. In the contemporary context, this people-as-root philosophy offers critical humanitarian insights for the evolution of the laws of war. Regarding jus ad bellum, it posits that the right to resort to force must be constrained by the imperative to protect civilian life and fundamental rights; regarding jus in bello, it offers a theoretical lens to rebalance military necessity with humanitarian obligations; and regarding jus post bellum, it advocates that the victor assumes a proactive responsibility to restore social governance, ensure public welfare, and preserve cultural continuity, thereby laying the social foundations for a durable peace.
Keywords: Minben Thought, Just War, Jus Ad Bellum, Jus In Bello, Jus Post Bellum.
