China abandons the traditional mentality that land overweighs sea, says its latest military whitepaper Tuesday.

The ocean is highlighted as one of China's four "critical security domains", other than the outer space, cyberspace and nuclear force, by the report titled "China's Military Strategy".

The country will place great importance to managing the seas and oceans and protecting maritime rights and interests, says the report published by the State Council Information Office.

"It is necessary for China to develop a modern maritime military force structure commensurate with its national security and development interests, safeguard its national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, protect the security of strategic sea lines of communication (SLOCs) and overseas interests, and participate in international maritime cooperation, so as to provide strategic support for building itself into a maritime power," the report says.