The Evolving Concept of Sea Power and China’s Maritime Force Development

• Main Authors: Pan, Yen-Hau, 潘彥豪
• Other Authors: Kao, Huei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/17181652852733535962

博士 === 中國文化大學 === 中山與中國大陸研究所中山學術組 === 100 === The rise of China is the most important event in the 21th Century. The rising China not only upgrade the economic power and international influence, but also the strength of military power, especially in the naval power. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the concept of security has enlarged and some country’s maritime enforcement organization becomes quasi-military organization, which is more important nowadays. So a country’s maritime force should include navy and maritime enforcement organizations. With the increase of the ocean consciousness after the P.R.C. promulgated “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone” in1992, the P.R.C. government paid more attention in the maritime enforcement organizations. The PLA Navy had a large number of vessels in early days, but most of them are small and lack of the ability of ocean-going. There were few large ships and most of them were outdated. The PLA Navy was modernized and was much stronger since 1990s. In addition, China conducted the administration reform in 1998 to clearly define the responsibilities of each maritime enforcement organization, and begin to construct them actively. In the past 20 years, both the PLA Navy and PLA maritime enforcement organizations have a leap of growth. According to the research, the author concludes the growth of the PLA’ maritime force reflects three characters in the level of the military mission: first, construct or purchase aircraft carrier and amphibious ship to enhance the ability of “Power Projection”. Second, conduct the modernization of naval ships to strengthen the ability of “Sea Control”. Third, use some asymmetric warfare to enhance the ability of “Sea Denial”. And there are also three characters in the level of the diplomatic mission: first, to increase the mission of “Show the Flag”. Second, use the maritime enforcement organizations to conduct the mission of “Gunboat Diplomacy”. Third, use the maritime force to promote transnational cooperation. And there is one character in the level of the police mission: to integrate five maritime enforcement organizations to one. In addition, the author also concludes that China is one of the great power in the current international system, and the growth of maritime force will have some impact in different level. In the global level: first, change the strategic situation of western Pacific Ocean. Second, change the strategic situation of Indian Ocean. Third, chanllenge the maritime strategy of the U.S.A. In the Asia-Pacific level: first, chanllenge the maritime interest of Japan. Second, chanllenge the maritime interest of the neighboring countries in the South China Sea. Third, escalate the arm race in the Asian-Pacific region. In the Taiwan level: first, enlarge the gap of maritime force between the P.R.C. and the R.O.C. Second, narrow the final options of Taiwan issue.