Dr. Bernard Cole, National War College

THE GREAT WALL AT SEA, China’s Navy in the Twenty-First Century - Second Edition

By Bernard D. Cole

In this new edition, Bernard Cole revises his acclaimed study of China’s navy, one that continues to grow while the U.S. Navy shrinks. According to the author, Beijing is now giving increased attention to guarding its vital sea lanes because of the nation’s growing dependence on maritime trade, especially energy supplies. He provides a thorough description of China’s naval establishment, including its personnel system, followed by a detailed view of its ships, submarines, and aircraft, all marked by technical sophistication and capability as China reaches the top rank of the world’s maritime powers. His evaluation is based on extensive interviews with Chinese and other naval experts, in-depth perusal of original documents, and visits to Chinese warships, training facilities, and shore establishments.

Capt. Bernard D. Cole, USN (Ret.), holds a PhD from Auburn University and is a professor at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He is the author of five other books and lives in Alexandria, VA.

The Great Wall at Sea is published by the Naval Institute Press.