Maritime power in the digital age: China’s naval modernization and cyber-strategic expansion

China’s accelerated modernization of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its expansive maritime infrastructure development are intensifying regional and global security concerns over cyber aggression and coercion. By deliberately blurring the boundaries between near and far seas, Beijing, through its actions, such as building artificial islands, deploying underwater drones, and establishing the Digital Silk Road (DSR), leverages engineering marvels to extend its geopolitical and military influence. These activities are further bolstered through the smart port initiatives, seabed sensor networks, and advanced naval assets such as frigates and aircraft carriers, collectively enabling more robust power projection across critical maritime domains. This is integrated with undersea cables and tunnels, which facilitate China’s surveillance and cyberespionage capabilities. Taken together, these dynamics highlight the urgent need for critical scrutiny of China’s quest for maritime power, which increasingly conceals geopolitical ambitions beneath the guise of developmental cooperation.