Sino File | China’s powerful navy has a challenge on its hands –persuading others it is to be used for peace

But he must be more than familiar with Mahan’s ideas about sea power, which have influenced world leaders from American president Theodore Roosevelt to German emperor Wilhelm II, and shaped naval doctrine in Europe and Asia. Mahan published a seminal work in 1890, The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783, and its key message is that sea power ensures commercial, political and military access to vital regions.

China declared its intention of becoming a “maritime power” at the 18th Communist Party congress in 2012, when Xi took over the party. Xi, also commander in chief of the People’s Liberation Army, has since prioritised modernising the navy to equal the naval strength of the United States. He has presided over a major overhaul of the Chinese navy, which is developing everything from stealth fighter jets to aircraft carriers.

In the eastern coastal city of Qingdao last Tuesday, a naval parade that marked the 70th anniversary of the Chinese navy also showcased just how much the Chinese have advanced in such a short time. Since 2014, the Chinese navy has launched more submarines, warships, principal amphibious vessels and auxiliaries than the total number of ships currently serving in the Taiwanese, German, Indian, Spanish and British navies, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Under Xi’s stewardship, China has also overtaken the US in both the number and total tonnage of vessels launched yearly.

China will have at least six aircraft carrier battle groups by 2035, which might pose the most serious Asian challenge to the dominance of US carrier strike groups since the sinking of the Imperial Japanese warship Shinano in 1944.