Chinaвђ™s Quest For Great Power: Ships, Oil, And ... May 2026

China now operates the world’s largest navy by ship count. This shift from a coastal defense force to a "blue-water" navy allows Beijing to:

(e.g., South China Sea, Arctic, Horn of Africa) China’s Quest for Great Power: Ships, Oil, and ...

Safeguard the shipping lanes that carry 80% of its trade. China now operates the world’s largest navy by ship count

Controlling commercial ports in Europe, Africa, and Asia. South China Sea