China as a Twenty First Century Naval Power: Theory, Practice, and Implications

China as a Twenty First Century Naval Power: Theory, Practice, and Implications by Michael A.McDevitt.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2020.320 pages.$39.95.

There is no longer any question that Chinas national destiny has become tied inextricably to the maritime domain. As distinct from naval power, the term maritime power denotes the projection of manifold instruments of statecraft-military, political, and economic-into the seas. Nevertheless, China has affirmed that its maritime strategy ultimately rests on the extent of its navy. The naval dimension of Chinas maritime strategy is the central focus of Michael A. McDevitt's new book, China as a Twenty First Century Naval Power: Theory, Practice, and Implications.

McDevitt is a retired rear admiral in the U.S. Navy and a senior fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses. Although unable to speak Chinese, he draws on a rich array of translated English-language primary-source documents, as well as secondary sources from leading contemporary scholars. The result is an analysis both compelling and novel. The book traces the development of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), explores its role in defending China's national interests, and hypothesizes its twenty-first-century trajectory.

McDevitt's point of entry is the "Chinese dream," a potent expression of Chinese grand strategy propounded by Xi Jinping. It is a vision of national...