China’s rise as a prominent maritime power not only mirrors past historical successes but also indicates a possible disruption in the current maritime power hierarchy. This rapid increase in maritime activity highlights a significant shift in the balance of power among naval forces worldwide, similar to historical events such as the British Empire’s dominant control over the Indian Ocean and the United States’ strategic dominance in the Pacific. China’s swift naval expansion directly challenges the historical maritime dominance of Western powers, particularly the United States, in crucial sea routes such as the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific. This expansion contrasts with the gradual rise of past empires. This emerging power dynamic not only poses a danger to traditional naval powers from their positions of leadership but also signifies a significant change in the global naval equilibrium.
The ramifications of China’s maritime ambitions extend far beyond mere power projection; they encapsulate a deliberate strategy aimed at redefining the rules of global maritime engagement. By asserting its presence in contested waters and strategically important sea lanes, China not only contests the maritime influence of Western powers but also seeks to establish a new maritime order that accommodates its rise as a global superpower. This aggressive push into maritime domains traditionally under the influence of the United States and its allies raises the stakes for control over these critical areas, positioning them as flashpoints for potential conflicts.
China’s economic rise since the reforms of 1978 has allowed it to extend its influence much beyond its own boundaries, participating in infrastructure development initiatives in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. This demonstrates a strategic expansion driven by a combination of prudence and ambition. China has carefully refrained from revealing its military goals in order to maintain friendly relations with the United States, while actively working toward its goal of becoming a blue-water navy with global operational capabilities. This strategic restraint is a component of a wider strategy to wait patiently until the circumstances become more advantageous.
China’s maritime policy involves several aspects, such as the Military Dimension, Economic Dimension, Technological Dimension, and Political Dimension. It strategically combines attempts to modernize its military with endeavors to expand its economy, in order to strengthen its marine capabilities. The Chinese government’s endeavors to update the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), together with the emphasis on marine infrastructure in the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrate a two-pronged strategy to safeguard its maritime interests. This plan has two main objectives: safeguarding China’s extensive sea routes and creating a worldwide network of naval bases in Djibouti, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, as well as commercial logistical centers in crucial maritime bottlenecks. This comprehensive strategy for projecting maritime strength is a deviation from the traditional pattern, in which naval and economic growth often occurred independently. Furthermore, China’s increasing influence in maritime affairs is occurring at a time when global marine standards and regulations are encountering unprecedented difficulties. The act of equipping disputed territories, such as those in the South China Sea, with military forces prompts concerns over the fate of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the concept of unrestricted movement on the seas. China’s activities in these disputed areas have ignited global conflicts, illustrating a wider conflict over the understanding and implementation of maritime regulations.
China has leveraged research and scientific exploration as diplomatic tools, securing permissions for seabed mining in the Pacific Islands and deep-sea research collaborations with countries in Southeast Asia under the pretext of scientific advancement. This dual strategy of advocating for economic security and promoting scientific exploration serves a twofold purpose: it strengthens China’s claims to maritime resources and influence, and it facilitates the country’s maritime and naval expansion in a manner that appears benign and constructive to both major powers and neighboring countries. Through these measures, China continues to advance its ambitions for oceanic dominance, carefully navigating the complex dynamics of international relations.
To advance its maritime strategy without alarming international observers, China cleverly positioned its naval expansion under the guise of protecting its economic interests from piracy and other maritime threats. This approach allowed China to justify the extension of its naval reach as a necessary measure for its economic security.
Maritime Maneuvers provides a comprehensive examination of China’s extensive maritime aspirations by analyzing a wide range of official documents, national policies, and scholarly literature spanning from 2003 to 2023. Edward Sing Yue Chan contributes significantly to this analysis, offering a detailed examination of China’s discourse of maritime power through thematic analysis. During this time, China is making a focused attempt to shift from being a regional sea power to becoming a dominant force in global maritime affairs. This effort is highlighted by the frequent use of the phrase “strong maritime state” (haiyang qiangguo) in China’s national discussions. China’s strategic narrative, which has been integrated into policy formulations and academic discussions over the last two decades, demonstrates its comprehensive strategy to establish supremacy in maritime affairs.
At the core of this policy is the intentional obscuring of China’s genuine maritime goals. China strategically constructs a convoluted storyline that obscures the transparency of its maritime goals by skillfully combining policy initiatives and scholarly debates. This narrative serves various strategic objectives: concealing China’s true intentions in the maritime domain, allowing for adaptability in addressing evolving geopolitical situations, and minimizing direct international criticism by incorporating these ambitions into a broader, developmental, and seemingly harmless framework.
This highlights China’s effort to align its official discourse with scientific endorsements of its maritime policy. The collaboration between policy and academics not only validates China’s ambitions on the international maritime platform but also integrates them profoundly into its national identity and development objectives. However, behind the facade of developing rhetoric, China is actively pursuing oceanic dominance via deliberate efforts to enhance its marine capabilities and establish critical maritime infrastructure worldwide. The deliberate use of unclear language in China’s discussions on maritime matters makes it difficult for foreign observers and policymakers to understand their true strategic aims. The use of this obfuscation tactic by China, while facilitating the advancement of its maritime objectives, gives rise to substantial apprehensions over the future of global maritime standards and the likelihood of disputes in contested areas.
This complex voyage explores the domains of maritime rights, naval advancement, and international maritime governance, presenting a story of peaceful ascent while also engaging in behaviors that imply a hidden desire for supremacy. This research aims to understand the intricacies of China’s actions at sea, by comparing its public statements with its strategic military movements and legislative efforts, in order to uncover its underlying ambition for dominance in the oceans.
China’s presentation of itself as a peaceful and beneficent state seeking world harmony is contradicted by its strong maritime actions and goals. Chinese officials and researchers aggressively promote the narrative of peaceful ascent in their bilateral relations with Southeast Asian and African nations. This narrative portrays China as a reformative force that positively contributes to global governance. Nevertheless, the available evidence indicates a deliberate effort to increase its power and authority in marine areas by using historical entitlements and international law to justify extensive territorial claims, especially inside the disputed nine-dash line in the South China Sea.
China’s creation of maritime power, which it claims to be unique, closely aligns with classic frameworks of maritime supremacy. This involves strategic deployment and the assertion of maritime rights. The creation of man-made islands, assertive marine scientific exploration, and the development of maritime sectors are clear indications of a wider policy aimed at asserting territorial control and expanding its area of influence. The focus on protecting marine rights and interests, especially by strengthening maritime administration and law enforcement capacities, indicates a deliberate attempt to strengthen its claims and contest the current maritime order.
The use of legal tactics and the establishment of ambiguous maritime territories demonstrate China’s strategy of exerting control over the seas by non-military methods. This is shown by the enhancement of domestic maritime laws and the transformation of the China Coast Guard (CCG) into a powerful paramilitary force. China aspires to strategically maneuver within the difficulties of international maritime law by reinterpreting it and establishing a grey area, using coastguards to play a more prominent role. This allows China to press its territorial claims without resorting to direct military conflict. China utilizes strategic ambiguity to expand its maritime power and influence by using legal authority and the pretext of protecting marine rights.
The evolution of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) into a blue-water force capable of projecting power over the global seas is a significant aspect of China’s maritime policy. The deployment of sophisticated naval warships, such as aircraft carriers and destroyers, coupled with a substantial increase in naval capabilities, demonstrates a distinct determination to protect its maritime interests and establish its presence and influence in crucial sea routes. China’s naval growth is in line with its overarching goal of establishing itself as a dominant force at sea, thereby disrupting the current distribution of power in important maritime areas.
China’s involvement in maritime governance and its promotion of a “maritime community of common destiny” demonstrate its desire to restructure the global maritime system in accordance with its own interests. China aims to establish itself as a prominent figure in ocean governance by engaging in diplomatic endeavors and actively participating in international forums. Its objective is to advocate for regulations and principles that would support its marine aspirations. China’s strategic orientation in the field of international maritime policy demonstrates its intention to not only engage in but also exert influence over global maritime governance. This reflects a wider pursuit of dominance in the world’s oceans.
China’s maritime tactics, which include strategic assertion, legal warfare, navy development, and diplomatic engagement, indicate its ambition to achieve oceanic domination. China’s actions in the maritime domain, including the construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and the deployment of advanced naval assets in the Indian Ocean, indicate a strategy that goes beyond its public narrative of peaceful development and cooperation. These actions suggest that China is pursuing a more intricate and ambitious plan to increase its influence and potentially challenge the current international order. China’s maritime policy has a dualistic character, alternating between benign language and forceful deeds. This highlights the intricacies of modern geopolitical maneuvering, where ambition, realpolitik, and the pursuit of dominance traverse the intricate realm of international relations.
This commentary, which is focused on studying China’s maritime policies and activities, highlights the need for a detailed understanding of its aspirations and tactics. As China asserts its presence and pursues its interests in the maritime domain, it is crucial for the international community to be alert. This involves engaging in diplomatic conversation and preparing for the challenges that come with preserving peace and balance in the world’s waters.
