FROM THE DIRECTOR 

The China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) Translation Vault 

This series presents a curated collection of open-source Chinese-language journal and newspaper articles that were originally published in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Hand-selected for their relevance to PRC military maritime affairs and translated by CMSI researchers over the past thirteen years, these materials were previously only available for limited distribution. CMSI is now pleased to open access to these translations and offer them to a broader community of defense professionals and scholars seeking deeper insights into evolving PRC military maritime developments. 

Each volume in the series is loosely organized by theme, featuring articles that address strategic, operational, and tactical dimensions of the PRC’s maritime military affairs. Selection was guided by operational or policy relevance at the time of translation, with some articles anticipating key shifts in Chinese policy or doctrine, and others offering rare glimpses into both official narratives and unofficial discourse. 

Though historical in origin, many of these sources remain timely. Readers may uncover enduring patterns, early indicators of current trends, or fresh perspectives on the PRC’s long-term military maritime ambitions. CMSI will continue publishing volumes in this series until its archive of previously translated materials is fully released. 

About This Volume 

Volume 1 of this series, Maritime Geopolitics of the Belt and Road Initiative, features eight translated articles examining China’s expanding interests beyond the western Pacific and the strategies it is developing to protect them—particularly along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road corridors. President Xi Jinping first announced the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road during an official visit to Indonesia in 2013. Initially referred to as One Belt, One Road (OBOR), the initiative was later rebranded as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

The opening article, “A Summary of Chinese Research on the Construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” surveys PRC academic literature on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It highlights key challenges, including geopolitical rivalry, uneven development, and non-traditional security threats along these corridors. The piece identifies gaps in existing PRC research, calling for empirical studies, sector-specific analysis, and broader regional coverage to inform policymaking and strategic planning. 

“‘One Belt, One Road’ and Grand Border Defense,” published in the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) official military journal National Defense in 2016, presents the initiative as both an economic and security framework. It argues that OBOR necessitates a shift from inward-focused defense to an outward-looking, integrated approach—termed “grand border defense”—combining military, diplomatic, and political tools to secure China’s interests along its periphery and maritime routes. 

The subsequent article, “‘Marching West’: The Rebalance of China’s Geo-Strategy,” was authored in 2012 by Wang Jisi, then Dean of Peking University’s School of International Studies, and originally published in the nationalist Global Times newspaper. The article is noteworthy for anticipating the logic that would later underpin BRI. Wang articulates a strategic rationale for the PRC to orient itself westward in order to secure energy supply chains, expand access to emerging markets, and counterbalance the U.S. “pivot to Asia.” He underscores the importance of long-term planning, sustained diplomatic engagement, and the cultivation of regional expertise. 

The next three articles explore China’s efforts to establish overseas strategic footholds. “Strategic Strongpoints along the ‘Belt and Road’ and Building Military Diplomacy” examines the role of military (i.e., PLA Navy, PLAN) diplomacy in selecting and developing overseas bases. “National Maritime Strategy Founded on Seapower Theory” draws on Mahanian theory to argue for far-seas training, overseas basing, and a national maritime consciousness. It identifies key priorities: securing the South China Sea, projecting influence in Southeast Asia and protecting energy routes to the Indian Ocean. “Making and Breaking the Status Quo: China’s Overseas Strategic Support Points” offers case studies of China’s overseas facilities and analyzes its long-term basing strategy. 

The final two articles assess PLAN operations in the far seas. “Chinese Sea Power Expansion and the State of Sea Power in the Indian Ocean” focuses on strategic competition with India and the race to control key chokepoints. “Five Major Implications of Chinese Surface Task Forces Crossing the International Date Line” evaluates the operational and strategic significance of the PLAN’s first eastward crossing in a combat-ready posture, highlighting implications for deterrence, regional dynamics, and maritime power projection. 

Together, the articles within this volume provide a window into the PRC’s evolving strategic thought as it seeks to protect its expanding global interests. They reveal a concerted effort to integrate economic initiatives like BRI with expanded military, diplomatic, and infrastructural capabilities, particularly across the Indian Ocean region. By analyzing how Chinese scholars and strategists conceptualize maritime power, overseas basing, and geopolitical competition, this volume offers valuable and timeless insights into the drivers of the PRC’s external posture and the potential implications for regional and global security as Beijing seeks to transform the PLAN into a “world-class” navy. 

Current Volume: Volume 1 (2025) Maritime Geopolitics of the Belt and Road Initiative

This volume features eight translated articles examining China’s expanding interests beyond the western Pacific and the strategies it is developing to protect them—particularly along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road corridors. President Xi Jinping first announced the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road during an official visit to Indonesia in 2013. Initially referred to as One Belt, One Road (OBOR), the initiative was later rebranded as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).