China's Mahan

Admiral Liu Huaqing and the Rise of the Modern Chinese Navy

This timely biography explores Admiral Liu Huaqing’s pivotal role in modernizing China’s navy and shaping its maritime strategy, highlighting his influence on naval doctrine, technological advancements, and regional and global security.

Admiral Liu Huaqing, often called the “father of the modern Chinese navy,” revolutionized China’s naval strategy and capabilities. Under his leadership, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) transitioned from a coastal defense force to a blue-water navy capable of far-sea operations and nuclear deterrence.

Liu championed a strong navy to protect China’s maritime interests and trade routes. His vision drove advancements in nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers, shaping China’s naval trajectory for decades, including the commissioning of its first aircraft carrier in 2011. Drawing on Western and Soviet naval theory, Liu crafted a doctrine of near-sea defense and far-sea protection, steering the PLAN’s shift from coastal operations in the 1950s to global reach by the 2010s, forming the basis of China’s current maritime posture.

The roots of Liu’s doctrine and reform policies stretch across half a century of sea battles, contested island landings, oceanic operations, shipbuilding, and technological development. These experiences continue to inform Chinese naval leadership today as they navigate ongoing challenges in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Liu’s life and legacy deepen our understanding of China’s maritime ascent and its consequences for Indo-Pacific security, serving as a vital resource for those seeking to understand, deter, or confront China’s growing sea power.

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