The Renewal of the Sino/American Strategic Rivalry and the Evolution of the Chinese Navy

Abstract

Abstract From 1991 to 2020 the Chinese navy transformed from a force that was unable to project any meaningful form of power to a force with over 100 vessels capable of blue water activities. This chapter argues that the primary driver behind this effort was Beijing’s strategic rivalry with the U.S. In the absence of the strategic rivalry, the Chinese navy would likely have modernized, but not to the extent that one finds today. Importantly, other explanations centred on nationalism, bureaucratic politics, and the security dilemma, do have limited merit, but on their own they are insufficient to cause naval modernization. This chapter directly traces the evolution of the Chinese navy and demonstrates how the rivalry caused Chinese leaders to pursue the rapid modernization of the Chinese navy.