Abstract:

Since the end of the Cold War, the geopolitical environment of China has changed greatly. The different needs of economy, geopolitics and diplomacy, etc, have forced China to enact the geopolitical strategy of seapower first. Meanwhile, China's overall maritime security environment is turning more and more complex. There are two kinds threats, which are traditional and non-traditional, to China's maritime security. The traditional security threats are from several maritime powers including America, Japan and India, etc, which pose threats to China's maritime rights and interests. The non-traditional threats, which include maritime terrorism, international piracy and smuggling, also have direct impact on China's political and economic security in maritime field. In this context, the PLA Navy, whose key components are submarines focusing on offshore water defense, is not enough to face these challenges. Constructing Blue Navy with aircraft carrier as its core has been an essential measure for China to safeguard its maritime security. Faced with traditional security threats, Chinese aircraft carrier's roles are huge and indispensable, including control of air and sea, maritime blockade, antisubmarine warfare, amphibious assault, antimissile warfare, sea-based nuclear forces protection and support to joint maritime operations. As for non-traditional security threats, aircraft carrier can also play an important role in evacuation, disaster relief and anti-piracy, etc. Thus, aircraft carrier is of great significance to China's maritime security and is playing a more and more important role.

Key words: China, seapower, maritime security, aircraft carrier, overseas interests

摘要：

冷战结束后，中国的地缘环境发生了巨大变化。经济、外交等方面的需要使得中国开始实施海权优先的地缘战略。具体而言，中国的海洋安全威胁主要有两类：传统安全威胁和非传统安全威胁。在传统安全威胁方面，美国、日本、印度等海上强国都对中国的海洋权益构成威胁；在非传统安全威胁方面，海上恐怖主义、国际性海盗行为和国际走私直接影响着国家的海上方向政治和经济安全。在此背景下，以潜艇为核心舰种的近海防御型海军明显不能满足需要。建设一支以航空母舰为核心的远洋海军成为维护中国海洋安全必不可少的战略手段。在应对传统安全威胁方面，中国航空母舰发挥了不可替代的作用，包括夺取海上制空权及制海权、执行海上封锁任务、反潜作战、两栖突击、反导作战、保卫海基核力量、为海上联合作战提供支撑，等。在应对非传统安全威胁领域，航空母舰在撤侨和灾难救援以及反海盗方面能够发挥重要作用。

关键词: 中国, 海权, 海洋安全, 航空母舰, 海外利益