China’s maritime dominance, shaped by decades of industrial policy, is now under U.S. scrutiny. President Xi Jinping often references China’s “century of humiliation,” which began with forced integration into global trade by Western powers. Learning from Japan’s 19th-century response to foreign pressure, China built a powerful shipping industry, becoming the world’s top shipbuilder and port operator.
Now, the U.S. sees China’s maritime strength as both an economic advantage and a strategic risk. The Trump administration, following a Biden-era investigation, has introduced escalating fines on Chinese commercial ships. However, a key question remains—will Washington invest in rebuilding its long-outsourced shipping capacity? With Trump’s incoming chief economic adviser advocating for an industrial policy prioritizing national security, the U.S. approach to maritime competition is set to evolve.
（By Angela Xie)
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