Countries with a long coastline have at least the potential to develop a maritime
industry. Countries with limited access to the seas will find it difficult to develop
fisheries, ports, shipbuilding enterprises, or shipping lines. Landlocked countries
have none of these opportunities though there are some odd cases like ships
flying the Swiss flag or an Austrian shipping line that has no home port of its
own. Coastlines should be seen in relation to the land area of a country. A huge
land-based country like China could afford to neglect its long coastline during
most of its history, whereas Britain consisting of a number of islands based its
imperial power on the facilities its coastline offered.