China's turn toward the sea is evident in its stunning rise in global shipbuilding markets, its expanding merchant marine, its wide reach of offshore energy exploration, its growing fishing fleet, and its increasingly modern navy. This comprehensive assessment of China's potential as a genuine maritime power is both unbiased and apolitical. Unlike other works that view China in isolation, it places China in a larger world historical context. The authors, all authorities on their historical eras, examine cases of attempted maritime transformation through the ages, from the Persian Empire to the Soviet Union, and determine the reasons for success or failure.

Introduction: Chinese perspectives on maritime transformation / Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein -- Persia : multinational naval power / Gregory Gilbert -- Sparta's maritime moment / Barry Strauss -- Rome dominates the Mediterranean / Arthur M. Eckstein -- Ottoman sea power and the decline of the Mediterranean world / Jakub Grygiel -- France : maritime empire, continental commitment / James Pritchard -- Imperial Russia : two models of maritime transformation / Jacob W. Kipp -- Imperial Germany : continental titan, global aspirant / Holger H. Herwig -- Soviet Russia : the rise and fall of a superpower navy / Milan Vego -- The maritime transformations of Ming China / Andrew R. Wilson -- The neglect and nadir of Chinese maritime policy under the Qing / Bruce A. Elleman -- More red than expert : Chinese sea power during the Cold War / Bernard D. Cole -- Strong foundation : contemporary Chinese shipbuilding prowess / Gabriel Collins and Michael Grubb -- China's navy today : looking toward blue water / Eric A. McVadon -- China studies the rise of great powers / Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein -- China and maritime transformations / Carnes Lord.