China is ranked by Russia** as the world's leading maritime power, surpassing the United States, according to the conclusion of the latest annual review. According to the ranking published by the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, China's comprehensive maritime potential accounts for 159%, slightly more than 155%, far ahead of the third-placed Russia with 68%。This achievement highlights China's rapid rise in the maritime domain. Although China has not yet surpassed the United States in the number of aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, it has built a more modern light naval force through continuous technological innovation and equipment upgrades. In addition, China ranks first in the world in terms of the size of its merchant fleet, reflecting its huge transportation needs and capabilities as the world's largest giant. The ranking does not judge a country's maritime potential based solely on the number of ships, but also takes into account its strength in controlling, researching and exploiting marine resources.
These data** are based on official public information published by each country, ensuring the impartiality and objectivity of the assessment results. China's comprehensive maritime potential performance and advanced progress in the utilization of marine resources are gradually being recognized by the international community. While the U.S. maintains an advantage in some key areas, China's leadership has had a profound impact on the global balance of power in the ocean. In the future, the global competition for marine resources will attract more attention from the international community, and China's maritime strength will continue to attract attention. China has surpassed the United States to become the world's No. 1 country in terms of comprehensive maritime potential, a change that will have a significant impact on the global ocean landscape. The United States has long maintained a leading position in traditional naval power, and its fleet of aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines has been the undisputed most powerful force in the world, forming the core of American maritime supremacy.
However, the current global ocean landscape requires various maritime powers to demonstrate their strength on a broader level, and China's momentum in this area poses new challenges to the world. The rapid rise of China's comprehensive marine strength is not only reflected in the construction of the world, but also in many fields such as marine economic activities, exploration and development of seabed resources, marine scientific research, and marine environmental protection. The enhancement of China's comprehensive maritime potential is due to sustained economic growth and a high degree of emphasis on maritime affairs. In recent years, China has accelerated the construction of a modern navy and introduced a number of new-generation warships, including advanced equipment such as aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines. At the same time, China is actively exploring seabed mineral resources, including rare earth elements and other key materials, which are important for high-tech industries. In marine science and technology research, China has invested heavily in building deep-sea research platforms, launched remote sensing satellites to monitor the marine environment, and made substantial progress in the fields of polar exploration and marine biotechnology research.
In addition, China's investment and cooperation in the marine economy of countries along the Belt and Road, such as port construction and shipping services, have further expanded China's influence in global ocean governance. In contrast, while the U.S. Navy remains strong, it faces stiff competition from China for control and exploitation of global ocean resources. To a certain extent, the U.S. maritime policy is constrained by domestic political and economic factors, which may affect its dominant position in the global competition for marine resources. The rise of China will promote the adjustment of the global marine economic structure, especially in the fields of shipping and marine resource development, reshape the distribution of international maritime power, and have a far-reaching impact on the global maritime security pattern. China's overtaking of the United States as the No. 1 country in terms of comprehensive maritime potential will force other maritime powers, both traditional and emerging maritime powers, to reassess their maritime strategies and policies and jointly shape a new pattern for the global ocean in the future.
The enhancement of China's comprehensive maritime strength is not only to participate in military competitions, but also to demonstrate a country's influence and strength in maritime activities involving various fields. As the center of gravity of the global ocean governance structure gradually shifts to the east, the future pattern of international ocean cooperation and competition will usher in new changes and challenges.