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E-mail China Daily, November 14, 2012
China's newly proposed strategy to build 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.
