Anchoring Global Ambitions: Beijing’s Ports Financing and the Race for Maritime Dominance

China is likely the world's top financier, constructor, and operator of ports. But where exactly has Beijing directed financing for overseas ports and related infrastructure—and to what end? Anchoring Global Ambitions provides the clearest picture yet of Beijing's global ports portfolio, reaching nearly every corner of the world. It draws from an accompanying dataset—Chinese-Financed Ports Overseas and Related Terminals (CPORTS) Dataset, Version 2.0—that tracks nearly $24 billion in Chinese state-directed loans and grants for 363 projects at 168 ports in 90 countries from 2000 to 2025. The report explores China's shifting maritime strategy; recent Chinese naval developments and related activities at ports; and the implications for the U.S. and its allies, regional powers, and port-hosting countries.