China is rapidly expanding its maritime footprint to secure its status as a global superpower. This "Great Power" ambition rests on two pillars: a massive naval fleet and a secure flow of energy. ⚓ The Blue-Water Ambition
Influence regions far beyond the South China Sea.
Energy is the "Achilles' heel" of the Chinese economy. To fuel its growth and military, China is obsessed with energy security:
China fears a blockade of the narrow Strait of Malacca, where most of its oil passes.
