Maritime power to protect ecology

China's newly proposed strategy to become a "maritime power" will not lead to marine hegemony, analysts said as the country is engaged in heated discussion of the leadership's call to develop the marine economy.

Meanwhile, the country's top marine official said that maritime strategy faces challenges such as protecting the ecology and ensuring rights.

President Hu Jintao, in his keynote speech to the Party congress last week, pledged that China would enhance its capacity for exploiting marine resources, develop the marine economy, protect the marine ecological environment, and "resolutely" safeguard China's maritime rights and interests.

The report, representing a broad policy consensus by the Party leadership and designed to guide the country's future development, also called for building China into a maritime power.

Liu Cigui, minister of the State Oceanic Administration, told China Daily that the maritime power pledge is strategically important as building maritime strength is necessary for China to grow into a strong country.

In building up maritime power, the biggest challenges lie in protecting the ecology while safeguarding rights, said Liu.

Liu made the remarks as several neighboring countries that have overlapping claims with China over some islands and water areas have moved unilaterally in drawing resources from the disputed areas, which has strained bilateral ties.

China advocated peaceful development and cooperation with neighboring countries on maritime issues, including ocean research and disaster relief, Liu said.

China will not provoke incidents in its neighboring area, nor does it fear other countries provoking incidents, said Liu.

"Our determination in safeguarding maritime rights is firm," Liu said.

According to Liu, the country's marine output will reach 10 percent of the country's GDP by 2015, which given the current growth rate, is estimated to reach 65 trillion yuan ($10.4 trillion) by then.

The marine economy totaled 4.55 trillion yuan last year.

Experts said the strategy gives the country's 3 million square kilometer marine area an unprecedented status, and closely connects the significance of the sea to the country's growth.

Given the country's dire need for resources to fuel its economy, the sea with its rich resources will play a big role in easing a shortage of resources, said Wang Fang, researcher with China Institute for Marine Affairs.

The marine area gives China more room for sustainable development, said Wang.

Wang also noted that the Chinese economy is becoming increasingly integrated with overseas countries, and water lanes play an important role in the material supply of foreign trade.

China must embrace the sea, and improve the development capacity of its maritime resources, said Wang.

According to Jiang Daming, governor of Shandong, the coastal province will try to build more marine-related industries and high-tech industries to ensure sustainable development. Jiang also said that Shandong will try to control marine pollution.

Li Guoqiang, deputy director of the Center for Chinese Borderland History and Geography at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said it is urgent for China to elaborate on a full set of overall maritime plans and improve legislation in maritime laws and regulations.

According to Li, maritime strategy has been a major setback for China in the past when its maritime rights and interests were relatively underestimated, and its safeguarding of maritime rights was lagging behind. "We should focus on building ocean-related capacities, including maritime development, law enforcement and national defense capacity," Li said.

Contact the writers at wujiao@chinadaily.com.cn