In recent years, global marine plastic waste pollution has become increasingly severe, posing a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health, and it has become one of the urgent environmental issues of great concern. In China, a large coastal country, the prevention and management of marine plastic waste pollution is crucial for ensuring national marine ecological security. This study sorts out the main sources of marine plastic wastes in China, the migration characteristics of these wastes into the sea, and the current status of pollution prevention and control. It analyzes the major problems regarding environmental leakage, plastic outflow accounting, and key driving factor identification in the production, discharge, disposal, and recycling of plastics. Moreover, the study identifies the deficiencies in the monitoring, identification, interception, and disposal modes of marine plastic wastes in China, as well as the major challenges faced in the land‒sea integrated management, and further explores new types of marine plastic waste management modes, including plastic waste reduction at source, biodegradable product substitution, synergistic participation of multiple subjects of liability, and empowerment by artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the study suggests clarifying the key nodes for marine plastic waste governance, developing core technologies of intelligent regulation and resource utilization, and establishing a cross-sectoral collaborative management mechanism, thus to strengthen China's land‒sea integrated governance capacity in marine plastic waste pollution control, with a view to promoting the sustainable development of the marine environment and assisting in the construction of China's marine ecological civilization.