Bernard D. Cole, Captain, USN (Ret.), holds a PhD from Auburn University and is a professor at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He is the author of five other books, including the first edition of The Great Wall at Sea, and lives in Alexandria, VA.

In this new edition, Bernard Cole revises his acclaimed study of China s navy, one that continues to grow while the U.S. Navy shrinks. According to the author, Beijing is now giving increased attention to guarding its vital sea lanes because of the nation s growing dependence on maritime trade, especially energy supplies. He provides a thorough description of China s naval establishment, including its personnel system, followed by a detailed view of its ships, submarines, and aircraft, all marked by technical sophistication and capability as China reaches the top rank of the world s maritime powers. His evaluation is based on extensive interviews with Chinese and other naval experts, in-depth perusal of original documents, and visits to Chinese warships, training facilities, and shore establishments.