Defense Attache Speaker Series

In November 2012, then president Hu Jintao declared that China’s objective was to become a strong or great maritime power. This presentation addresses Chinese thinking on what a maritime power is, why Beijing wants to become a maritime power, what shortfalls it believes it must address in order to become a maritime power, and when it believes it will become a maritime power (as it defines the term). It look at the component pieces of China’s maritime power—its navy, coast guard, maritime militia, merchant marine, and shipbuilding and fishing industries. It also addresses the impact that China’s becoming a maritime power would have for U.S. interests.