Maritime power to protect ecology

China's newly proposed strategy to become a "maritime power" will not lead to marine hegemony, analysts said as the country is engaged in heated discussion of the leadership's call to develop the marine economy.

Meanwhile, the country's top marine official said that maritime strategy faces challenges such as protecting the ecology and ensuring rights.

President Hu Jintao, in his keynote speech to the Party congress last week, pledged that China would enhance its capacity for exploiting marine resources, develop the marine economy, protect the marine ecological environment, and "resolutely" safeguard China's maritime rights and interests.