Seapower And China

This dissertation analyzes the theoretical and practical issues of Chinese seapower.Seapower is not only an old word but also a modern strategic concept. In the classical definition, seapower means the use and control of the sea, i.e., a certain state or nation using and controlling the sea deprives other states or nations of the chances and rights. In 1890, the American strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan put forward "Seapower Theory", claiming seapower was vital to the rise and fall of great powers, and creating significant influence on history. "Seapower Theory" held that a state should build superior ocean-going navy for the protection of overseas trade, overseas markets, maritime navigation and other interests, and for the delivery of state political will and diplomatic influence to the world affairs on the land.This author defines Chinese seapower as China's maritime power and influence. It refers to the ability to use, exploit, regulate and control the sea, and to maintain the maritime interests and state interests to make China powerful. Chinese seapower contains three interwoven fields and processes - maintaining maritime interests, taking back maritime rights and advancing maritime power by military and non-military means. It includes preserving maritime territories, safeguarding SLOCs (Sea Lanes of Communication), developing maritime economics and constructing maritime defense forces. It resolves three important problems: to obtain the allocation of resources in a globalized world to fasten China's industrialization and informatization; to set up security assurance system of seaward so that China will have globalized self-defense methods to protect its global interests; to choose the route of state development and shift the grand strategy so that China will turn from a state of depending mainly upon land resources and forces to maritime (and overseas) resources and forces. As a result, China will come to the best road to world power.Chinese seapower has the common character as any other countries, but it has its own character, especially Chinese seapower distinguishes from the west seapower with its non-bully, non-hegemonic and non-expansionist feature. The development ofChinese seapower is part of China's peaceful rise. Chinese seapower fits the demands of China's peaceful rise, and grows with China's peaceful rise.