The sea power theory proposed by Mahan is based on the analysis of nations’ sea power building process in the period from the seventeenth century to the nineteenth century，especially Britain’s hegemonic experience over the sea and the whole world. Firstly，Mahan concludes the relations between a country’s mastery of the seas and its prosperity within a particular period. However，this conclusion based on periodic history has some limitations to explain sea power systematically. Secondly，Mahan explains the general process of developing a country’s sea power. The idea that military capability and economic power mutually promote each other is still valuable nowadays，while the expanding characteristic in that era is not appropriate today. Thirdly，Mahan’s sea power theory has an essential influence to the implementation of America’s open-up policy and the establishment of its hegemony in the twentieth century. Finally，this paper tries to find out the reasons of China’s failure to establish a strong sea power in accordance with Mahan’s sea power logic，and analyze different implications of sea power in different periods，especially China’s sea power strategy.