Maritime powers depend on sea lift in ways land powers do not

The comparison places the United States in Britain's earlier maritime position and China in the position of a continental power such as pre-First World War Germany. A continental state can reach many objectives by land and may treat sea power as an additional option or defensive layer. A geographically maritime power must move most overseas forces and heavy cargo by sea because air and space transport impose severe capacity limits. Loss of naval primacy therefore carries different consequences for states whose global position depends on oceanic transport.