ABSTRACT
The greatest differences between sea and land are the former’s fluidity and openness. Traditional military powers such as the United States, Great Britain, France and Russia have long ably maintained military presences overseas, while frequently conducting overseas military operations; India, Japan and other emerging military powers are also actively planning to foray overseas. National interests are the main driver behind a country’s overseas activities. The ‘stepping out’ of China’s military forces is first and foremost necessary to safeguard and expand interests. For any country, as its economic power advances worldwide, its military might likewise ‘step out.’ China is no exception, as the Chinese economy’s ‘stepping out’ has naturally led to the Chinese military forces to ‘follow suit.’ To a certain extent, China has already begun to possess overseas power projection capacities. This forms the material basis of its military forces’ ‘stepping out.’.
