| A historical survey of cases of Continental powers---Imperial Germany, Soviet Russia, and the People's Republic of China---pursuing maritime transformation, seeking to understand the motivations and the reasons these ambitious building programs are undertaken. The presence of an existing hegemonic maritime power influences perception of seapower as being indispensable to a transition from regional or Continental land power to global status, and the rising state attempts to emulate this kind of ability through the development of surface fleets with sea control or capital ship capabilities in order to secure demonstrable global power and further global interests and influence. The apparent refusal of rising powers to consider sea denial strategies as adequate to security needs further suggests the primary motive on the part of the political leadership for authorizing surface fleet construction may be political, rather than concern with wartime naval strategy. Implications of these cases and the political motivations, including arms races, opportunity costs, and other possible consequences, as well as policy implications for the United States in the face of the Chinese naval program, are also considered. |
