The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is important for understanding the oceans. It is also the main tool used to adapt and respond to global climate change and most ocean-related issues. A series of ocean observation strategies and plans, formulated by GOOS and its organizations, are expounded and summarized, mainly for the next ten years, in coordination with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. The main development and implementation focus of future global ocean observations are abstracted from these strategies and plans. Specific suggestions about the design of ocean observation, data management and application services, and international cooperation are proposed for the development of China’s ocean observation, which can provide a reference for China to expand its global ocean observing capacity, cope with global climate change, and participate in global ocean governance.