Also, if MSR nations refinance their loan plans with China in the future, the potential exists for China to increase their ownership or operational control of those foreign ports as a part of the refinancing agreement. MSR contract details are often difficult to obtain, which presents a unique challenge when compiling data on foreign ports with Chinese influence. 6 Today, MSR port influence expands globally and ranges from Chinese port construction or financing to majority port ownership. Source: courtesy of the author, adapted by MCUP.Ĭhinese companies initially announced their intentions to invest in nine overseas ports, with the majority located in the Indian Ocean. China’s Maritime Silk Road global influence Two years ago, that country could no longer afford its payments, so Beijing pressured Sri Lanka to deliver the new port directly into Chinese hands.” 4 After the Hambantota Port deal, Chinese official media reported “another milestone along path of #BeltandRoad.” 5 That behavior suggested that China’s MSR intentions were to expand global influence by controlling critical infrastructure. Pence further elevated the debt diplomacy narrative when he stated, “just ask Sri Lanka, which took on massive debt to let Chinese state companies build a port of questionable commercial value. 2 Even though Sri Lanka used the money to strengthen their foreign reserves and was therefore not a victim of “debt diplomacy,” news outlets suggested that China intentionally created a loan agreement that would result in a payment default. In 2017, the international community became skeptical of China’s economic diplomacy when Sri Lanka leased the Hambantota International Port to a Chinese company for 99 years in exchange for $1.12 billion. There was an initial mixed, global response to the MSR. 1 The Maritime Silk Road created ports, enhanced existing infrastructure, and financed maritime projects with the incentive for the host nation being an increase in tourism and economic growth. With the Indian Ocean alone hosting 80 percent of Chinese imported oil and 95 percent of Chinese trade with the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, China prioritized port infrastructure projects to bypass choke points and increase trade route options. China designed the Maritime Silk Road (MSR), under the BRI, to connect China to Europe for trade purposes. President Xi Jinping announced China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. sealift and financial options, enhancing military lethality and intelligence sharing, and maintaining strong international relationships under an ethical framework. The article additionally provides recommendations on alternative U.S. Navy port access for power projection, and China’s procurement practices compared to international norms. The article examines the history of the Maritime Silk Road and provides the current and desired future states for foreign port surveillance against the United States, U.S. national security concern because it degrades operational security, alters military force projection, and bypasses ethical procurement norms. This article argues that the Maritime Silk Road is a U.S. Department of Defense and several other government departments. China’s increasing support to global maritime infrastructure directly impacts the U.S. Transportation Command’s (USTRANSCOM) ability to project forces through military sealift. China’s twenty-first century Maritime Silk Road impacts multiple geographic combatant commands as well as the U.S. T he maritime domain continues to display its importance as countries around the world enhance their capabilities in a global race to impact sea control and power projection. Keywords: operational security, surveillance, force projection, international norms, procurement action in response to China’s global port influence, as well as recommends ways to counter each threat China imposes on the United States through the Maritime Silk Road. The author articulates the importance of U.S. The main findings reveal that the Maritime Silk Road is a U.S. Department of Defense and other government departments and agencies. This article examines the specific impacts on the U.S. While the literature frequently discusses the Belt and Road Initiative, the Maritime Silk Road and its impact on U.S. Abstract: This article examines how China’s twenty-first century Maritime Silk Road impacts U.S.
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