Maritime state to maritime power

Besides, China also has to take effective measures to ensure that navigation in international waters is safe, for which it has to carry out regular anti-piracy operations.

Although China's maritime power strategy conforms to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, it has to better publicize its policies to change other countries' misconceptions about its motives.

The country's leadership has been taking well-organized steps with the aim of safeguarding its maritime rights and interests in a peaceful manner to distinguish China from traditional maritime powers that depended on military strength, including establishment of military bases overseas, to expand the ambit of and consolidate their hegemony.

In other words, China will use all its strength - political, diplomatic, economic, legal, cultural and military - to safeguard its maritime rights and interests. It will develop its navy in proportion to its overall strength and gradually overcome the difficulties and meet the challenges that emerge during the process.

The country will follow the principles and requirements that the international community holds close to its heart to develop high-end marine technologies, improve its capability of exploiting as well as managing marine resources, and build its naval forces.

The implementation of the maritime power strategy is of great strategic value and significance for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China has to better manage maritime development in order to transform itself into a maritime power.

Keeping in mind the importance of a harmonious relationship between the marine environment and human being, China should cultivate common interests with other countries to reap mutual benefit from the exploration and exploitation of marine resources. For that, it has to put forward ideas and values that are easy to be accepted by the international community.

The author is director of the Center for China Marine Strategy Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.