Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
This article evaluates the potential use of maritime blockade as part of a U.S. strategy for ending a protracted conflict with China. Drawing on historical examples from the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II, the author argues that blockade remains relevant because China depends heavily on seaborne energy imports and maritime trade. The article proposes a modernized approach that combines close and distant blockade operations to pressure China’s economy while reducing risk to U.S. and allied forces. Close blockade elements would focus on neutralizing Chinese shipping near contested waters, while distant blockade forces would help identify and interdict maritime traffic at strategic chokepoints. The author stresses that such an approach would require extensive diplomatic coordination with allies, partners, and neutral states and would need to account for China’s antiaccess/area-denial capabilities, alternative overland energy routes, Russian support, and the competing demands of counterforce and countervalue operations. The article concludes that blockade would not succeed on its own, but could serve as a viable and scalable component of a broader strategy for a protracted U.S.-China conflict, particularly if it preserves options for deescalation and is supported by further research and wargaming.
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