The ultimate goal of the great powers is to secure hegemony on their own continent while preventing the emergence of a hegemonic power that dominates the other continent. China, too, will seek hegemonic status in Asia based on its economic growth. John J. Mearsheimer argues that it is in the interest of the United States to withdraw its military forces from Asia and that China's army is already strong enough to defend itself. China will make every effort to improve its naval power to the same level as the military power of its army, thereby focusing on building a maritime power in the East Asian region.
Today, major powers are establishing overseas military bases to exert global influence or developing expeditionary capabilities through military alliances with friendly countries. The United States has 300,000 troops stationed overseas, and in 2008 there were about 1,000 overseas military bases, including 268 in Germany, 124 in Japan and 87 in South Korea. But even with a strong navy and air force to back it up, its power will inevitably diminish as it moves away from its home country. This means that the hegemony of a great power is regional due to the influence of distance, and it is difficult to control global hegemony. However, if a great power emerges in any region of the world and seeks to dominate the region, the United States will intervene in the region directly or indirectly in the long run. The Dong-Eui strategy, which is now being actively pursued, is also an extension of this context.
China has not had soldiers stationed overseas or a base for them like the United States, but it has judged that it can replace this with the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and it is accelerating the construction of overseas military bases. The same is true of China's preparations to expand its influence in Africa by building a military base in Djibouti. In particular, China is actively using its superior military power to strengthen its regional mar itime claims. China is geographically blocked by the Western Pacific Islands and does not face the exit of the Indian Ocean Trench, but it can use the military power of its army to exert influence in these waters by taking advantage of its geographical conditions. This geographically advantageous position provides China with a rationale for building a regional naval power in East Asia.
China believes that maintaining a strong army and securing a solid foundation for the development of its maritime territory is important for the exercise of its own political power. In other words, as a country on the border between land and sea, China is in a difficult position where it is at a disadvantage in terms of land and sea, but also in a favourable position where it can promote mutual development. It believed that it could use its superior army to make up for its maritime disadvantage in the process of developing its maritime territory. In response, it is simultaneously expanding its political, economic and military power while further strength ening its naval influence. Moreover, if the naval power of the United States is geographically extended beyond the first island chain, the United States, as a maritime power, will be able to strengthen the military power of its army in East Asia, where it is expanding its influence, and become the leading power.
