The problem is Qing's lack of attention to maritime trade and naval power after the takeover of Taiwan was partly to be blamed for its failure during the Opium War. Although the Manchu emperor has some knowledge of the West from missionaries and jesuits, the Manchu court completely failed to grasp the rise of the British Empire. By the time the McCartney Mission arrived in Beijing, Qianlong Emperor was absolutely ignorant of the fact that he was about to face a new nemesis that the no imperial dynasties had faced before. McCartney even presented a steam engine to the Qing Court, but no one in the Court was able to grasp the importance of this new technology. No one was able to understand how an industrialized maritime power was going to wreck havoc on China's coastal cities, and Qing's brown water navy could do little to catch up with the RN's much faster steam ships.
With the sea level set to rise, China would be smart to become a maritime power by building upon the BRI and not repeat Qing's mistakes. In the future, those who control the seas will have access to far more resources than land powers. Mahan's theory will be even more important after Antartica melts away.
