The Sea Dragon Network
Subtitle: implications of the international expansion of China's Maritime shipping industry
By:  Wayne R. Hugar
Contributors: Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 109
Description: This thesis examines strategic motivations and implications of the international expansion of China's maritime shipping industry (MSI). China's economic growth strategy depends upon maritime shipping to export foreign exchange earning commodities and import energy, industrial, and food resources. As a result, China's MSI is expanding faster than that of any other nation in the world. China's MSI expansion is creating regional shipping networks that increase levels of Sino-foreign trade (SFT) interdependence. The argument herein is that increases in SFT enhance Beijing's regional ability to advance China's economic, political and security interests. The analysis suggests China's foreign policy and overseas investment in strategic resources increase levels of  SFT and transportation requirements for China's MSI. China's MSI expansion impacts regional shipping services, schedules, and prices in China's favor. The analysis also suggests China's dependencies on regional MSI and SFT networks increases Beijing's sense of maritime economic vulnerability to perceived      threats in international waters. China's maritime security  policy and recent naval deployments are examined to assess the potential for China's Navy to protect China's MSI in regions where levels of SFT are high. China's desire to protect its MSI offers opportunities for Sino-U.S. Naval and maritime security cooperation in deterring threats to mutually shared maritime shipping interests.
Notes: "June 1998."

Thesis advisor(s): Robert E. Looney, Mary P. Callahan.

Thesis (M.A. in  National Security Affairs) Naval Postgraduate School, June 1998.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 105).

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat reader.

US Navy (USN) author.

Item lost in circ 6/18/99 per fl. dk 6/30/99 (bar code 32768003468364 c.2)

updated dlb 12/12/06