(China Maritime Studies Institute & The Naval Institute Press) This book assesses China’s potential as a genuine maritime power, placing it in a world historical context next to cases of similar attempted transformations from the Persian Empire to the Soviet Union. The authors argue that China has turned the corner on maritime transformation and contend that if this proves to be true, such a transformation would be an extraordinary event in the history of the last two millennia. This volume is the third in the series, “Studies in Chinese Maritime Development,” following China’s Future Nuclear Submarine Force and China’s Energy Strategy: The Impact on Beijing’s Maritime Policies . A co-editor of all three books in the series, Erickson is associate professor in the Strategic Research Department at the U.S. Naval War College and a founding member of its China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI). Goldstein, also a co-editor of all three books, is associate professor of Strategic Studies at the Naval War College and founding director of CMSI. Lord is a professor of Naval and Military Strategy at the Naval War College and editor of the Naval War College Press.