ABSTRACT
A merchant marine was essential to China in the 1950s, as the bulk of its population, industry, and commerce was concentrated on or near its long seacoast. A merchant marine was essential to China in the 1950s, as the bulk of its population, industry, and commerce was concentrated on or near its long seacoast. The majority of Eastern Bloc ships engaged in foreign trade with China during the 1950s were not Soviet but Polish. The pattern of China's foreign trade changed dramatically after the Communist revolution. In 1948, only 5 percent of China's foreign trade was with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe; this grew to 25 percent in 1950, 75 percent in 1951, and 84 percent in 1952. China is fortunate in facing upon some of the largest and richest fishing grounds in the world. The new government made significant and effective moves to develop the fishing industry. China's maritime economy made impressive advances in the first decade of Communist power.
