The evolution, dynamic mechanisms and trends of China's marine economic security policy: a bibliometric study based on policy texts from the 1990s to 2025

Purpose This study aims to systematically analyze the evolutionary process, stage characteristics, and logical driving forces of China’s marine economic security policies (1990s–2025). It further explores policy implications and future trends to support the sustainable security of marine economic activities and overall national security. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review of marine economic security theory, 63 national and local policy documents are classified into multiple stages. Policy text measurement methods − word frequency analysis, social network analysis, and keyword co-word analysis − are adopted to quantitatively identify policy evolution patterns, characteristics and driving forces. Findings The results reveal distinct evolutionary stages of marine economic security policies with unique characteristics. The logical driving forces shift from initial policy guidance to systematic construction and high-quality development orientation. Key policy focus areas evolve, reflecting the dynamic adaptation to national marine economic development needs. Originality/value This study systematically traces the evolution of China’s marine economic security policies from the 1990s to 2025 and quantitatively analyzes policy text features. It fills the gap in long-term research on this topic and provides empirical support for improving marine economic security governance.