Nationalism at Sea

Rethinking China’s Naval Expansion Since the 1980s

Abstract

China’s dramatic naval expansion and increasing assertiveness in maritime affairs over recent decades mark a significant departure from its historically continental strategic orientation. Chinese strategists and experts often attribute this transformation to a shifting threat environment and growing economic interdependence with maritime trade since the launch of economic reforms in 1978 and the end of the Cold War in 1991. While both factors held explanatory value in the late 20th century, their relevance has diminished since the 2010s, and remains insufficient to account for China’s continued pursuit of a carrier-based, blue-water navy capable of global power projection. Drawing on Robert Ross’s concept of naval nationalism, this paper offers a complementary perspective to these conventional explanations.Through a critical analysis of China’s strategic behaviour from the 1980s to the present, this paper argues that naval nationalism has been a consistent — though not exclusive — driving force behind China’s naval development. Its influence is closely tied to Beijing’s perception of its global position: the more China perceives itself as occupying a strong position or operating within a favourable international environment, the more salient naval nationalism becomes in shaping its maritime strategy. Fuelled by nationalist sentiment and symbolized by aircraft carriers and far-sea operations, China’s ambition to become a global sea power is increasingly accompanied by a determination to “reclaim” its maritime territory and challenge US naval dominance in the Western Pacific.