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[Opinion] China’s Rise as Sea Power

Posted March. 09, 2007 05:41,   

한국어

In The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783, published in 1890, U.S. Captain Alfred Mahan argued that the U.S. should build its naval power to dominate the sea. While the U.K. “controlled the waves” until before World War I, Mahan’s argument became the “manifest destiny” of the U.S. in the 20th Century. The U.S. has since then made itself an empire with unprecedented sea power in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

The position of the U.S., dominating the two oceans seems unchangeable. However, there have been challenges. On March 6, a Chinese military delegate, holding a rank equivalent to general in the People’s Liberation Army, said, “The project of building aircraft carriers is proceeding smoothly toward completion in 2010.” It was a public announcement of China’s capability to build an aircraft carrier, following President Hu Jintao’s statement in last December, “China should build a powerful navy.” The total number of aircraft carriers, the symbol and substance of the “great sea power,” is 26; 12 of which are owned by the U.S.

China’s “rise as a sea power” is not a frontal challenge to the U.S. It is focused on securing transport routes for oil. President Hu visited Seychelles, an Indian Ocean island country with the population of 80,000, at the end of last month. Seychelles is located at a strategic point connecting Asia with Africa. It is without doubt, however, that China’s rise is causing tension among Asian countries, including Japan.

Japan has been preparing for its “resurrection into a great sea power” by unifying navy control functions since Shinzo Abe succeeded Koizumi as prime minister. What are we doing in such circumstances? The Korean navy has been a “navy catching spies” for decades. These days, it is doubtable. It is said that the navy toasts, “To the world!” after shouting, “To the sea!” It is time to set out to build up a mid-sized naval power with a restraining influence to neighboring countries, like Netherlands did in the 17th and 18th Century.

Kim Chang-hyeok, Editorial Writer, chang@donga.com