China’s Layout in Overseas Ports Along the Belt and Road

• Main Authors: Hsing, Chang-Yuan, 邢昌元
• Other Authors: Chiu, Kun-Shuan
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/nvc373

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 外交學系戰略與國際事務碩士在職專班 === 106 === China proposed “the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” in 2013, claiming that China will help countries build ports, so as to realize onfrastructure connectivity and unimpeded trade. Judging from China’s investment in overseas ports, China did not adopt the “String of Pearls. Strategy” and militarize the ports it invested in. However, it can be found that those ports are along the chockpoints of the maritime routes. Although the ports neither give outstanding throughput performance nor enjoy superb natural conditions in terms of trade, their position are great geopolitical and strategic importance. In order to ease concern around the world, China is improving its global image through maritime counterrorism cooperation and escort missions. However, such moves also that its Navy has acquired blue water capabilities, so China’s maritime strength should not be underestimated. China sells its BRI to the world. Most of the Asia-Pacific and South Asian countries, which are geographically close to China and weak in political, economic, and military strengths, tend to support the initiative. India, feeling geopolitically threatened, strongly oppose it. Most Gulf and African countries suffer from polical instability and poor infrastructure, but they also welcome the initiative thank to their long-time close delations with China. EU member states, in general, reject the initiative, but they still welcome Chinese investment in private due to problems within the EU and gloomy economy. As for US, those the new administration turn down the initiative, its withdrawal from the TPP also weakened its influence in Asia. As a result, Japan has become the new obstacle for Chinese port investments in the region, leading to fierce Sino-Japanese competition over the ports in Southeast Asian and South Asian countries.