Bruce A. Elleman is William V. Pratt Professor of International History, U.S. Naval War College, specializing in Chinese history.

Introduction: The Special Characteristics and Peculiarities of China's Maritime History; 1. Battle of B¿ch пng River (938); 2. Battle of Yaishan (1279); 3. Battle of Lake Poyang (1363); 4. Ming-Kotte War in Southeast Asia (1410); 5. Ming Loyalists Flee to Taiwan (1661-83); 6. Battle of Chuanbi (1839); 7. Sino-French War (1883-84); 8. Qing Beiyang Fleet's Defeat in the Battle of the Yellow Sea (1894); 9. Chinese Decision to Sink Nationalist Navy as Blockships (1937); 10. 'Chongqing' Mutiny Allowing the PLA to Cross the Yangzi River (1949); 11. The Taiwan Strait Crises (1954-55 and 1958); 12. China's Decision to Take the Paracel Islands from South Vietnam (1974); 13. Missile Blockade: The Taiwan Strait Crisis (1995-96); 14. The EP-3 Standoff and Diplomatic Resolution (2001); Conclusion: The Influence of History on the Formation of the Modern Chinese Navy; Appendices; Selected Bibliography; Index.