Center for Maritime Strategy – China’s naval modernization is no accident—it is the result of a deliberate, Mahanian strategy that converts economic might into maritime dominance. Beijing’s methodical approach to securing trade routes, building a modern fleet, and extending its strategic reach stands in stark contrast to America’s fragmented and reactive posture. The stakes are clear: if the United States fails to reclaim its focus on sea power, it risks ceding its historic role as the guardian of the global maritime order. In the new era of great-power competition, the command of the seas is not merely a military objective; it is the foundation of national power and global stability. The United States must remember that, as Mahan taught, great nations must not only float with the tide of history—they must command the waves.