Title: China’s New-Era Maritime Security: A Holistic National Security Framework Authors: Xu Chuanang, Zhang Yanzhe, and Zhang Jian ISBN: 978-1-80589-052-2 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-80589-053-9
Hardback
Pages: 282
About the Book:
This book provides a comprehensive examination of how China is redefining its maritime security strategy within the framework of its holistic national security vision. Drawing on historical development, institutional reform, and strategic transformation, it analyses how China’s maritime governance has evolved from fragmented responses to an integrated system that links defence, economy, environment, and diplomacy. The study traces the deep cultural and institutional roots of China’s approach to the ocean and explains how these traditions are being reshaped by contemporary challenges in law, technology, and global governance. Through interdisciplinary analysis, the book presents a clear structure of China’s maritime thinking in the new era and outlines the policy logic behind the construction of a coordinated, sustainable, and enduring maritime security system. It is a key reference for scholars, policymakers, and professionals concerned with maritime affairs, international security, and Chinese strategic studies.
China’s New-Era Maritime Security: A Holistic National Security Framework
Chuanang Xu is a PhD candidate in World Economy at Jilin University, under the supervision of renowned scholar Professor Zhang Yanzhe. His research focuses on the Belt and Road Initiative, non-traditional security, China’s maritime security, and country/region-specific economic studies. As a scholar deeply engaged in global economic and security issues, Xu Chuan’ang is dedicated to exploring the interplay between global economic structures and security challenges, particularly in the context of China’s policy and influence on maritime and non-traditional security under the Belt and Road Initiative. His research integrates perspectives from international relations, economics, and security studies, offering both theoretical insights and empirical analysis, with the aim of providing valuable contributions and policy recommendations in these fields.
Dr. Yanzhe ZHANG: is Professor of Northeast Asian Research Center of Jilin University.
Dr. Jian ZHANG: is Doctor in Economics and Lecturer of International Economics and Politics School at the Liaoning University.
A comprehensive analysis of China’s maritime security strategy within the framework of the holistic national security concept, offering a systematic perspective rarely addressed in existing maritime security studies.
Bridges history, strategy, and governance, tracing the evolution of China’s maritime thinking from cultural and historical foundations to contemporary policy and strategic design.
Integrates traditional and non-traditional maritime security issues, including naval strategy, maritime economic security, environmental protection, digital ocean governance, and technological transformation.
Explains the institutional logic behind China’s maritime governance system, examining how policy coordination, legal frameworks, and national strategy interact across defence, economy, environment, and diplomacy.
Addresses emerging technological dimensions of maritime security, including artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring, maritime data systems, and digital ocean platforms shaping modern ocean governance.
Provides insights into China’s role in global ocean governance, including maritime law, international cooperation, and participation in the development of international maritime norms.
Examines the Indo-Pacific security environment and maritime competition, offering a policy-relevant perspective for scholars, analysts, and professionals working on international security and maritime strategy.
Presents a structured and interdisciplinary approach to China maritime security studies, making it a valuable reference for research on China studies, international relations, maritime policy, and global security governance.
Preface Chapter 1: Kun’s Dream and the Oceanic Map Section 1 Oceans in Myth: The Proto-Aspiration to Face the Sea Section 2 The Ocean in Civilization: Early Dynasties and the Capacity to Engage with Water Section 3 From Institutional Emergence to Strategic Reversal: The Termination of China’s Millennia-Long Maritime Trajectory Section 4 The Sea Cannot Be Forsaken: China’s Maritime Awakening Amid Modern Crises Section 5 Broken Fleets, Enduring Visions: Reconstructing Chinese Maritime Strategy from Republic to Revolution Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 2: Between Rupture and Continuity – Reconstructing Maritime Thought and Institutions in Modern China Section 1 Beginnings and Anchoring (1949–1978): Foundational Naval Development in the Early PRC Section 2 Crisis and Realignment (1979–1995): The Shock of Reality and Strategic Reorientation in the Early Reform Era Section 3 Development and Exploration (1996–2005): Institutional Progress and Capability Breakthroughs in Naval Modernisation Section 4 Initiation and Anchoring (1949–1978): Naval Development and Institutional Foundations in the Early PRC Section 5 Strategic Accumulation and Intellectual Readiness (2011–2014): Maturation of Maritime Thought Prior to the National Security Concept Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 3: Expanding Paradigms—Incorporating Maritime Non-Traditional Security and the Evolution of Governance Logic Section 1 The Exposure of a Single-Security Logic: The Endogenous Limits of the “Defense Navy” Paradigm Section 2 The Escalation of Non-Traditional Threats and the Awakening of Security Awareness Section 3 Structural Reconstruction of the Logic of Maritime Security Governance Section 4 Expansion of Policy Frameworks and the Enhancement of Governance Capacity Section 5 Systemic Integration Attempts Prior to the Proposal of the Holistic National Security Concept Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 4: Under the Surface Currents — Five Real-World Maritime Security Challenges Facing China Section 1 Approaching the Frontier: The Intensification of Maritime Military Security Risks Section 2 Resource Rivalries: Strategic Contests over Maritime Economic Security Section 3 Fragile Linkages: Channel Anxiety in China’s Maritime Economic Security Section 4 The Internationalization of Strategic Competition in Maritime Political Security Section 5 “Isolated Information Islands”: Multiple Risks and Defensive Logics of Maritime Information Security Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 5: Holistic Coordination — A New Interpretation of Maritime Security under China’s Holistic National Security Concept in the New Era Section 1 Strategic Core: The Logical Structure and Institutional Tensions of the Holistic National Security Concept Section 2 Security Coordination: An Integrated Governance Mechanism for Maritime Security Under Multi-Dimensional Threats Section 3 Capacity Transformation: Policy Transition from National Will to Maritime Governance Capability Section 4 Cognitive Evolution: Reconstructing Maritime Consciousness within the National Security Discourse Section 5 Feedback Mechanism in Institutional Evolution: From Pilot Programs to the Normalization of Governance Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 6: Strategic Counterbalance and Breakthrough — Governance Strategies for Addressing China’s Maritime Security Dilemmas Section 1 Institutional Integration for Coordinated Governance — Resolving the Dilemmas of Fragmented Authority and Sectoral Divisions Section 2 Optimizing the Technological System for Integrated Maritime Sensing: Addressing the Risks of “Information Silos” and “Delayed Early Warnings” Section 3 Cognition-Led Strategic Narratives: Countering Discourse Deficits and Rule-Setting Passivity Section 4 Strategic Governance through Regional Mechanisms: Mitigating Geopolitical Coercion and Normative Containment Risks Section 5 Adaptive Mechanisms for Governance under Normalized Evolution: Escaping the Traps of Reactive Management and Structural Inertia Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 7: Strategic Blueprinting — Top-Level Design and Institutional Translation of the Maritime Power Strategy Section 1 Strategic Embedding of National Will: From Policy Initiative to Top-Level Coordination Section 2 Reforming the Institutional Framework of Marine Functional Zoning: A Reconstruction Path for Spatial Governance Logic Section 3 The Integrated Blue Development Mechanism under the “Five-Sphere Integrated Plan”: A Synergistic Model Linking Ecology, Economy, and Security Section 4 Fiscal Investment and Policy Instrument System: A Multi-Level Resource Allocation and Support Mechanism Section 5 Institutional Translation Capacity for Strategic Execution: From Vision to Mechanism Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 8: Rule-Making Power—China’s Institutional Participation and Discursive Construction in Global Ocean Governance Section 1 China’s Position under the Framework of International Maritime Law: From Passive Adaptation to Rule Participation Section 2 China’s Response to Global Blue Governance Agendas: Engagement with Resources, Climate, and Polar Affairs Section 3 The Provision Capacity of Maritime Public Goods: Institutional Responsibilities in Security, Scientific Research, and Humanitarian Rescue Section 4 Global Dissemination of the “Community of Shared Future” Concept: Normative Values and Institutional Linkages Section 5 Strategic Wisdom in Institutional Construction: Cross-Cultural Legal Dialogue and Normative Expansion Pathways Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 9: Intelligent Empowerment — The Transformation of Ocean Governance Capacity Driven by the Technological Revolution Section 1 Building Digital Ocean Platforms: Multi-Source Sensing Systems and Intelligent Coordination Mechanisms Section 2 AI and Deep-Sea Exploration: Information Dominance in the Deep Blue Domain Section 3 Integrated Marine Big Data System and Real-Time Feedback Loop: A Closed-Loop Mechanism of Early Warning, Response, and Adjustment Section 4 Cybersecurity and Digital Sovereignty: Institutional Responses to Emerging Technological Risks Section 5 A Rule-of-Law Framework for Technological Governance: Integrating Ethics, Regulation, and Governance Capacity Section 6 Chapter Summary Chapter 10: The Maritime Expression of Institutional Civilization – The Global Significance of China’s Governance Philosophy Section 1 “Carrying the Dao through the Ocean”: The Deep-Blue Reflection of Chinese Governance Philosophy Section 2 Governance through Wisdom: The Maritime Evolution of China’s Institutional Capacity Section 3 The Institutional Sublimation of “Intelligent Governance”: From Technical Rationality to Value Rationality Section 4 The Reconfiguration Pathway of "Institutional Discourse Power": From Rule Taker to Rule Maker Section 5 Institutional Consciousness and Global Vision of a Civilizational State Section 6 Chapter Summary Conclusion Reference
