5 Keys to Global Dominance: Examining China's Strategic Resources

The People’s Republic of China has become a significant international power by waging a form of unrestricted warfare on the United States and other Chinese competitors. Admiral John Arbuthnot Fisher believed controlling five key straights would give a nation global dominance. In the 21st century, international cooperation has created an environment where a nation must possess more than a geostrategic monopoly to control the world. Following Admiral Fisher’s philosophy, this paper looks at five key areas of interest that a nation would need to control to secure dominance. Simultaneously, it will discuss how the PRC attempts to control these areas through unrestricted warfare tactics. The PRC first tries to secure geostrategic control by building and leasing foreign ports and creating debt traps that force poor but strategically essential nations to submit to China. Secondly, the PRC creates a secure energy supply overseas while increasing domestic energy production. The PRC uses BRI and BRICS+ to create an international economy dependent on Chinese goods and loans. They are also using BRI to expand the reach of Chinese data collection abilities, providing the CCP with insights into key foreign figures and organizations. Lastly, the PRC is using its foreign influence to manipulate international institutions like the United Nations, with the hope of forcing those organizations to work in China’s favor.