ABSTRACT
The oceans represent power—maritime (including naval) power—which is the aim in an escalating contest between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), for regional as well as global predominance. As part of this contest, China and the United States each seek to develop a Blue Economy, a concept that fosters more sustainable development while also promoting innovation and more sustainable maritime industrial development across a myriad of commercial and military maritime-oriented endeavors. Who prevails in this contest is likely to hold sway over the maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific region throughout the remainder of this century. If the United States and its allies, partners, and friends in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region and beyond are to compete effectively in this emerging geostrategic “Great Blue Game,” understanding China’s notion of a Blue Economy and how it differs in important ways from US and other Western conceptions is an essential first step.
