In the first of a two-part series, Arif Rafiq separates the various strands of the “String of Pearls” theory with Isaac B. Kardon, which assumed the establishment of Chinese naval military bases from the South China Sea westward to the northern Indian Ocean in Chinese-operated commercial ports. These included ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. However, China’s first overseas military base was set up in 2017 in the East African country, Djibouti, further fueling speculation about China’s ‘strategic strongpoints’. Kardon explains whether missions are prepared for offensive or defensive operations. He talks about the nexus between Chinese party-state officials, state-owned enterprises and private firms in pursuing strategic commercial and foreign policy considerations through the expanding network of commercial ports. Rafiq and Kardon also discuss the debate within China on the dual-use nature of these ports.