Great Water Wall in South China Sea: Maritime Designs of China under Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/4.2.22Keywords:
Rise of China, Water Wall, South China Sea, Sea Power, Maritime Power, Maritime Strategy, Maritime Policy, Seaborne TradeAbstract
Seas play a vital role in shaping and reshaping the course of global politics, from developing empires to new global orders. Virtually 80 percent of China’s trade resources passes through the Seas and mostly by South China Sea, so it has initiated developments in South China Sea, from building artificial island, light houses to air strips to secure its trade routes. The aim of the study is to clarify the assumptions that China is building a ‘sand wall’ or ‘water wall’ like great wall to secure its maritime trade. Descriptive, analytical approach has been adopted to study the marvel; Mahan’s theory of Sea power has been applied to quantify the developments made by China. It concludes that China is striving for naval supremacy as per Mahan’s theory along with synthesis of Mao’s ‘Active Defence’. Hence Peaceful and integrated strategies are required to minimize the implications of disruption of seaborne trade.
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