In an article that I co-authored with Prof. Rohan Gunaratna for Air University in the USA, we argued that China is tilting to leverage its sea power, emulating Mahan’s principles of complete command at sea. The recent launch of China’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, has given Beijing a state of euphoria, affirming our argument on China’s zest for naval supremacy. The rise of the People’s Liberation Army Navy from a tiny coast guard force to a blue water navy was not set in an accidental manner, as it was deeply rooted in China’s own interest in restoring its maritime legacy that dates back to the famous voyages of Admiral Zheng He.

Drawing on Mahan’s doctrine that a powerful fleet underpins a prosperous nation, Xi Jinping once stated, “History and experience tell us that a country will rise if it commands the oceans well and will fall if it surrenders them…We must adhere to a development path that makes our country rich and strong by making full use of the sea.” In line with this strategic vision, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) gradually shifted from its traditional “Offshore Defense” strategy to an “Open Seas Protection” doctrine, which necessitated the rapid and large-scale development of its naval assets. Since the adoption of this doctrine in 2015, the PLAN has advanced its shipbuilding capacity to an unprecedented level, ultimately becoming the largest navy in the world.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is powered by two A1B........

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