The Dragon goes to the Sea: China’s naval expansion and its strategic implications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/cg.v10i1.78759Abstract
Since the second decade of the 21st Century, the People’s Republic of China has increasingly stood out as a rising maritime power. The main goal of this article is to carefully discuss the process of expansion and modernization of China’s naval forces and the relation that this process has with important policy objectives of the country. Firstly, those initiatives dedicated to the formation of a navy with overseas force projection capabilities (Blue Water Navy) will be evaluated, followed by A2/D2 (Anti-Access/Area-Denial) capabilities, as well as the non-conventional maritime law enforcement forces. Finally, the political and strategic motivations that are pushing a well-known continental power to the sea will be discussed. To accomplish this task, specialized literature will be used as well as data about Chinese naval forces to identify changing trends.
Keywords: China; Blue Water Navy; Naval Strategy; A2/AD; Maritime Silk Road.
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