ABSTRACT
Early sea power concepts highlight the use of naval power to project influence abroad, whereas modern sea power concepts highlight the use of naval power to safeguard maritime interests. The former refers to gunboat diplomacy which reached its zenith in the 19th century with the ascendency of Western powers. Throughout its history, China has long been a continental power with little maritime ambitions. For lack of a maritime security policy, China was highly vulnerable to foreign invasions from the sea. The Century of Humiliation has always been the driving force behind China’s naval modernization. The study aims to contribute to the growing body of literature on sea power by exploring how maritime power serves China’s vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world. It will identify the potential challenges China would face in its current process of naval modernization. This study will then propose a set of policy considerations for shaping China as a truly global maritime power.
