By Wei Jigang, Research Department of Industrial Economy, DRC; Zhou Ran, Zhu Lequn, Li Xiaojun & Zheng Lin, Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering, Ministry of Transportation.

Research Report, No.229, 2020 (Total 5973) 2020-9-23

Abstract: The “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road” is the maritime lifeline for the transportation of important strategic materials of resources and energy in China, the security of which is related to the national security and the smooth operation of national economy. In the context of increasingly complex international situation, traditional and non-traditional security threats, it is of great significance for us to enhance the safe level of the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. In order to effectively break the strategic constraints of key shipping routes, we need to increase commercial presence in Malacca, detour around the Sunda Strait as an alternative when necessary, strengthen the connection between land routes and sea shipping routes, continuously follow the progress of Kra Isthmus Canal project, and expand the Arctic shipping routes. It is advisable for us to carry out low-sensitive cooperation with relevant countries in the field of channel security, strengthen security cooperation through scientific and technological innovation, enhance the development of global security early warning and prevention mechanism, set up strategic fulcrums for overseas security, and support enterprises to participate in overseas port operation.

Keywords: 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, channel security, Strait of Malacca