CMSI Translations

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  CMSI Archive Translation: Strategic Strongpoints along the “Belt and Road” and Building Military Diplomacy

  Liu Lin [刘琳}

  This article examines the strategic rationale for China’s construction of overseas strongpoints in support of the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing the integration of economic, political, and military resources. It argues that strategic strongpoints—such as the naval logistics base in Djibouti—enhance China’s ability to safeguard overseas interests, secure trade and energy routes, and support non-combat operations like anti-piracy, disaster relief, and evacuations. Military diplomacy is highlighted as a critical tool for consolidating these strongpoints, fostering bilateral trust, and managing regional security perceptions without pursuing hegemony. The article underscores the importance of careful host-country selection, civil-military coordination, and sensitivity to reactions from other great powers, offering actionable insights for policymakers seeking to balance China’s overseas strategic objectives with broader diplomatic and security considerations.

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  CMSI Archive Translation: "One Belt, One Road" and Grand Border Defense

  Hau Anghao [侯昂好]

  This article examines China’s “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) strategy as a framework for integrating economic expansion with a reconceptualized approach to border and maritime defense, termed “grand border defense.” The author argues that OBOR requires China to transition from inward-looking security and defense postures toward outward-oriented, cooperative strategies that blend military, political, and diplomatic efforts. Grand border defense serves as both a protective and enabling mechanism, supporting the strategic connectivity of land and maritime routes while addressing emerging non-traditional security threats such as terrorism, transnational crime, and environmental risks. Policymakers should recognize OBOR as a dual-purpose initiative: advancing China’s economic and geopolitical influence while transforming its defense posture into a proactive, integrated system that reinforces national power and stability in peripheral regions and along critical sea lanes.

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  CMSI Archive Translation: A Summary of Chinese Research on the Construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

  Tan S. Yao [谭瑶]

  This article surveys Chinese scholarship on the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, analyzing its strategic, economic, and geopolitical significance. It highlights China’s efforts to strengthen regional economic integration, develop coastal and port cities, and expand maritime trade networks while navigating external pressures from major powers. The study identifies key challenges, including geopolitical competition, uneven development along the route, and non-traditional security threats. It also reviews policy recommendations, such as enhancing infrastructure, fostering regional supply chains, and promoting political trust between states. The article concludes by noting gaps in the literature, emphasizing the need for empirical analysis, sector-specific studies, and expanded research on regions beyond Southeast Asia, offering actionable insights for policymakers and strategists engaged in maritime development and regional cooperation.

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  CMSI Archive Translation: Making and Breaking the Status Quo: China’s Overseas Strategic Support Points

  Hu Zhongjian [胡中建]

  This article analyzes China’s emerging strategy for establishing overseas strategic support points to safeguard its expanding economic, energy, and security interests. Through case studies of Gwadar (Pakistan), Djibouti, Darwin (Australia), and Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), the authors highlight China’s approach of low-profile, mutually beneficial engagement rather than overt militarization. The study underscores the strategic importance of these locations for protecting sea lines of communication, supporting naval operations, and enabling China’s “Going Out” strategy in trade, influence, and military presence. The authors argue that China’s overseas support points reflect a deliberate, long-term strategy balancing national ambitions, host-country sensitivities, and external geopolitical pressures, particularly from the U.S. and regional competitors. Policymakers should recognize China’s expansion as incremental, strategically selective, and framed to minimize confrontation while maximizing influence.

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  CMSI Archive Translation: Chinese Sea Power Expansion and the State of Sea Power in the Indian Ocean

  Li Jian [李剑 ]

  The article analyzes the strategic competition between China and India in the Indian Ocean, where both powers seek to expand sea power and secure critical chokepoints such as the Malacca Strait. It argues that China’s naval modernization and maritime presence challenge India’s traditional dominance and intersect with U.S. interests in maintaining regional stability. The author highlights that control of sea lanes and access to bases will shape future power balances, making maritime security in the Indian Ocean central to broader questions of hegemony and great-power rivalry.

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  CMSI Archive Translation: “Marching West,” the Rebalance of China’s Geo-Strategy

  Wang Jisi [王缉思]

  Wang Jisi argues that China should adopt a “Marching West” strategy to balance against the U.S. “pivot to Asia” and avoid zero-sum rivalry in East Asia. By deepening economic, political, and security engagement with Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, China can secure energy routes, expand markets, and strengthen regional influence while contributing to stability. The strategy emphasizes building a New Silk Road, enhancing multilateral cooperation through mechanisms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and cultivating expertise on western regions. While offering opportunities for strategic maneuvering and U.S.–China cooperation, the approach carries risks of instability, regional rivalries, and perceptions of resource exploitation. Wang stresses careful long-term planning, diplomatic balance, and investment in regional knowledge to ensure success.

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  CMSI Archive Translation: National Maritime Strategy Founded on Seapower Theory

  Liu Yang [刘洋]

  This article applies Alfred Thayer Mahan’s seapower theory to China’s maritime strategy, stressing far seas training, overseas bases, and cultivating seapower consciousness among the masses. It argues that China must shift from a “low profile” approach to “positive action,” stabilize a long-term maritime strategy, and openly declare its core interests. The author identifies securing the South China Sea, achieving influence over Southeast Asia, and protecting maritime energy routes to the Indian Ocean as essential objectives for sustaining China’s rise as a maritime power.