Abstract: In 1900, Asian-Eastern Times published the article “On Fundamentals for Sea Power”, marking the formal contact and translation of Alfred Mahan’s sea power thoughts by the Chinese press. Afterwards, various newspapers and periodicals cited the theory of sea power, discussed naval construction, called for maritime sovereignty, reported disputes over fisheries, sea boundaries and islands, which effectively promoted the spread of sea power concept and became “China’s first astonishing discovery about sea power theory in the 20th century”. The translation and transmission of sea power theory rebounded to the construction of modern marine knowledge, heightened the awareness of Chinese sea power view, and strengthened the understanding of navy, ocean and islands. It demonstrated the press takes a driving role in knowledge transformation and social change.