Waves of progress: a bibliometric analysis of the current status and emerging trends in maritime security research

Purpose Maritime security is a crucial aspect of national security. In recent years, it has become a vital factor in safeguarding maritime rights and interests, developing maritime power, and strengthening global ocean governance. This paper aims to review the current status and research hotspots of maritime security in Chinese journals, compare these findings with relevant studies from foreign-language journals, and propose directions and references for future research. Design/methodology/approach By employing CiteSpace visualization software and bibliometric visualization analysis from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), this paper conducts a visual analysis of 879 relevant publications in the CNKI database. The visualization results are then compared with research findings reported in foreign-language journals. Findings The analysis shows that maritime security has received increasing attention, with research activity rising sharply after 2004. Key research areas include global ocean governance and maritime security, Sino-Japanese maritime security issues, China’s maritime security under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and response strategies based on the evolving maritime security situation. The evolution of research themes has followed distinct stages, influenced by international dynamics, China’s surrounding security environment, and shifts in national strategies. Research limitations/implications This study relies solely on data from CNKI, excluding sources from English databases such as Web of Science and Scopus. As a result, it mainly reflects maritime security research in China and may not offer a comprehensive view of global research trends. Originality/value This paper systematically reviews China’s maritime security research output, identifies major research topics and emerging trends, and provides directions and references for future research. It also compares Chinese findings with significant international research priorities in maritime security, highlighting similarities and differences. Thus, it serves as a useful reference for international audiences seeking to understand Chinese research on maritime security.