Political Science for ABJ

Question: Discuss the following points..Mahans arguments of factors that affect seapower.Chinas emergence against maritime power US. Answer: Mahans arguments of factors that affect seapower Mahan viewed that geographical position of the country not only allows a strong concentration on forces rather it stands for a strategic advantage for operation against its enemies. However, currently United States maritime strategy is purely based on its geographical position; extensive coastlines in both Pacific and Atlantic Ocean (Holmes and Toshi 2005). However, Mahan was much concerned on the fact that a maritime power has no bases abroad and the geographical position is actually disadvantage for carrying commercial activity. The time has changed and now the maritime powers maintain a series of naval base throughout the water bodies. For example, US maintains navy bases across Asia and Africa region both for protecting the commercial transport and deterring any hostile activities. Another condition stated by Mahan is physical confirmation that reflects upon the nations ability to interact beyond its region. The time when Mahan wrote the piece, US was noted as the superpower beca use other countries had not access to international commodity market. The situation has changed and countries such as China, Indonesia, and Singapore can easily access to market commodity. As opined by Mahan and Mahan (1980), the extension of territory that is the length of the coastline against the size of the country is a determinant of sea power. While looking at US or England, the evidence is clear because the countries are having a long-standing coastline against size of the country. Though, the factor has not changed much, rise of China as another maritime power negates the theoretical assumptions of Mahans study. Chinas expansion in maritime power reflects its massive global presence. Mahan considered population as the determinant not in terms of total numbers of citizens rather the numbers of people readily available to go into sea or going for naval activities. The factors has not changed much as more numbers of candidates are going to naval activities from emerging maritime powers China, Indonesia or India. The other factor national character of the country remains more or less similar because the merging sea powers are interested in commercial activities als o. Finally, governments character is the determinant of a sea power and it stands for the extent of retaliation a government wishes to make on its hostiles (Russell 2006). Chinas emergence against maritime power US America is facing one of the most important security challenges since the beginning of American history. The biggest security threat of America is maintaining the position in global maritime power and preserving the powerful maritime influence of America. However, U.S navy is already facing power crisis. America's navy system has been cut short since 1980s, as it shrunken from 594 ships to 280 ships until date. It is estimated that the next president of America will be able to regain Americas maritime position as from since the Bush administration, with huge Pentagon budget, fleet amount has been lessen by 60 ships. However, the American naval fleet is still larger from most of the countries in this world. America being a superpower has unbelievable global reach and super endurance system (Tracy 2013). American Navy was keeping an eye on the growing navel power of China. However, as tension and heat is increasing between these two countries, it is estimated that though Americas maritime power will remain supreme but with the advent of Chinas power, it will not be unchallenged (Sumida 2001). Since the Second World War, America developed and maintained a constant hegemonic power for constant access to the global maritime way. Sea power of both the countries naval kind and softer kinds, which is associated with trade and exploitation of sea resources is very crucial and important for security purpose. However, China is by far most strong naval challenger of Americas maritime. China started very slowly but from an average beginning, china has developed a navy system that has emerged from a basic coastal system to a potent power source in the close radius of its sea border, which means the first island line from Japan until Philippines. Chinas maritime is evolving which is aiming for so mething more big and powerful. Over time, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is becoming more constant and more demanding technically. References Holmes, James R. and Toshi Yoshihara. 2005. "The Influence Of Mahan Upon China's Maritime Strategy". Comparative Strategy 24 (1): 23-51. doi:10.1080/01495930590929663. Mahan, A. T and A. T Mahan. 1980. The Influence Of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1805. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Russell, Greg. 2006. "Alfred Thayer Mahan And American Geopolitics: The Conservatism And Realism Of An Imperialist". Geopolitics 11 (1): 119-140. doi:10.1080/14650040500524137. Sumida, Jon. "New insights from old books: The case of Alfred Thayer Mahan." Naval War College Review 54, no. 3 (2001): 100. Tracy, N. 2013. "Book Review: Twenty-First Century Seapower: Cooperation And Conflict At Sea".International Journal Of Maritime History 25 (1): 427-429. doi:10.1177/084387141302500177.