ABSTRACT
From 1840 onward, becoming a maritime power has been the dream and pursuit of generations of Chinese elites. Since the turn of the 21st century, China has extensively accelerated its maritime focus and efforts for the construction of maritime power. Sea power and sea control had been criticized for a long time in China as tools of imperialism and hegemonism, which makes it a little difficult for Chinese elites to understand the basic points of sea power and sea control. Even some Chinese officers and scholars still take this conception for granted and deem that China should neither mention nor pursue sea power. The development of China’s interests and responsibilities requires China to be able to project power in the world’s seas. This is first to safeguard the country’s overseas interests. China’s foreign interests have already become globalized. China’s overseas interests refer to those interests created by the Chinese government, corporations, societal organizations and citizens through global communications.
