China and the Race to Global Pole Positioning: Containment of the U.S. and Maritime Supremacy
China’s drive to attain global superpower status is one of the most significant geopolitical transformations of the 21st century. Beijing has taken decisive steps to safeguard its national interests and bolster its regional and international standing. By developing its military and naval capabilities, modernizing its defensive infrastructure, and adopting a balanced diplomatic approach, China aims to establish an effective deterrence strategy designed to prevent any escalation triggered by the United States.
This strategy appears rooted in China’s nuanced understanding of the complex realities it faces, which demands balanced doses of firmness and flexibility. Beijing’s actions reflect its ambition to transition from an “emerging great power” into a key player in global decision-making, directly challenging Western dominance, particularly that of the United States. In response, Washington is waging both economic and geopolitical battles against China. The resulting tensions, if left unchecked, could spark global instability, escalate into a nuclear confrontation, or even ignite a third world war.
The American Near-Blockade of China
Beyond the economic war it has launched against Beijing, the United States is tightening a comprehensive geopolitical noose around China as part of a multi-faceted containment strategy. This effort begins in the east, with Taiwan as a central American stronghold, bolstered by Washington’s absolute influence over the island. Additionally, Japan hosts the Futenma airbase in Okinawa and roughly 47,000 American troops, making it one of the most prominent U.S. military presence in the Pacific. In South Korea, Camp Humphreys is the largest U.S. military base outside of the American mainland. Its population is larger than some small American cities; it houses over 28,500 troops at a cost exceeding $10 billion.
The U.S. containment strategy also stretches into the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where Washington backs the positions of the Philippines and Vietnam in their sovereignty disputes against China over the Spratly Islands. This region is a vital artery for projecting maritime influence, and the United States is leveraging it to obstruct China’s expansion into the Pacific.
To the west, China borders Afghanistan, which is currently under Taliban rule following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Washington may view this as an opportunity to destabilize China’s western frontiers, especially amid ongoing tensions with India in the southwest.
In the north, Washington is also working to encircle Beijing. U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to strike deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would allow Moscow to exit the Ukraine war with concessions and U.S. security guarantees, along with removing tariffs on the condition that Russia distances itself strategically from China. These maneuvers reflect a determined American effort to fracture the burgeoning Sino-Russian alliance.
China’s Strategic Response: Nuclear Alliances and Economic Inroads
China’s response is far from limited to retaliatory tariffs; it has taken strategic steps that reveal a deep understanding of global power dynamics. Beijing is steadily building a network of alliances and partnerships that support its interests, for example, by hosting a conference that brought together Iran and Russia to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. During the summit, China openly expressed its support for Tehran’s right to develop nuclear technology,[i] practically challenging U.S. policies and raising the prospect of proxy confrontations between Washington and China’s regional allies.
In Asia, North Korea remains a key strategic ally for Beijing, underpinned by a historic relationship dating back to the Korean War (1950–1953), during which China deployed three million soldiers from its People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) to support Pyongyang. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between the two countries remains in place today, reinforcing a strong military bond between China and North Korea.
On the Russian front, despite occasional divergences between Moscow and Beijing, their growing alliance remains a serious concern for the United States. China has stood by Russia throughout its war with Ukraine, providing vital economic support in the face of sweeping Western sanctions. This prompted U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio to openly declare that one of Washington’s key strategic objectives is breaking the Sino-Russian bond.[ii]
In Africa, where the rivalry for influence between Washington and Beijing is rapidly intensifying, China has taken bold steps to deepen its presence. It has established a financial remittance bank tailored for African use, while its loans to the continent are approaching the $1 trillion mark. Through these investments, Beijing aims to secure African loyalty to the “One China” principle regarding Taiwan while garnering broad political backing across international forums.
China has also made significant inroads into Latin America, which is long considered under U.S. influence, by supporting governments that adopt positions contrary to Washington’s. Nations such as Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, and, more recently, Colombia and Mexico have all received Chinese support, prompting increasingly hostile policies from the Trump administration toward these countries.
This geopolitical tug-of-war also helps explain Trump’s controversial remarks about purchasing Greenland.[iii] The island, northeast of Canada between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, has become a new front in the U.S.-China rivalry. China is currently the largest investor in Greenland and has included it in its Belt and Road Initiative, underscoring its importance as a strategic gateway to the Arctic. Beijing envisions using this region as a path to encircle the globe economically. China has even attempted to build airports and reportedly sought to purchase an old U.S. naval base in Greenland, a move Washington quickly blocked.[iv]
Naval Power: The Tool for China’s Rise to Global Domination
China’s strategic bid to challenge the United States for global preeminence is most evident in its investments in technology and military capabilities, particularly its growing naval power. Beijing aims to possess the world’s largest and most expansive navy by 2035. Despite significant advances in fleet construction, China’s actual combat capabilities still lag behind those of the United States, which enjoys superior operational experience and advanced maritime technologies.
This strategic focus reflects China’s readiness to enter a global power competition, where maritime dominance remains a pillar of great-power status. As noted by Dr. Mohammad Walid Youssef, head of ICGER, in his study “The World Order and the High Seas and Oceans,” the rise of global powers has historically been tied to the possession of massive naval fleets that control vital sea lanes and trade routes. The United States is aware of China’s maritime ambitions, evident in President Donald Trump’s and his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth’s plans to raise the U.S. defense budget to $1 trillion.[v] This is a clear sign of growing anxiety over China’s development of its naval force and its geopolitical implications.
Despite the significant gap in capabilities between the two militaries, control over the seas and oceans remains a vital factor in shaping the future of the global order. This escalating maritime rivalry may trigger complex geopolitical shifts and mark the beginning of a new era of tensions with far-reaching consequences on economic dynamics and global security.
[i] https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/03/14/china-russia-iran-nuclear-talks-us-sanctions-trump/
[ii] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-27/rubio-says-us-can-t-let-russia-become-china-s-junior-partner
[iii] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkezj07rzro
[iv] https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-pentagon-countered-chinas-designs-on-greenland-11549812296
[v] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/07/hegseth-trump-1-trillion-defense-budget-00007147