The position of South China Sea-Malacca-Indian Ocean route in China's foreign trade

The Strait of Malacca is more than 800 kilometers long. Except the coastal countries on both sides of the Taiwan Strait enjoy 12 nautical miles of territorial waters and at least 12 nautical miles of small islands in the Taiwan Strait, the rest are exclusive economic zones. Countries along the Straits enjoy sovereignty over the territorial waters of the Straits and the waters of the exclusive economic zone of the Straits. Malacca is an important shipping channel connecting Asia with Europe and the Middle East, controlling a quarter of the world's shipping trade. According to statistics, 50,000 merchant ships arrive in Singapore every year, and nearly half of the world's oil tankers pass through the Straits of Malacca every year.

Pirate "paradise"

In June 2004, a group of Washington officials headed by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld discussed the situation in the Straits of Malacca with senior officials from some Asian countries, and prepared to send marines into the Straits.

According to a monitoring research report of the United States and Singapore, about 50,000 merchant ships passing through the Straits of Malacca are unable to resist joint attacks from terrorists and pirates every year.

Since the beginning of19th century, the 885km narrow sea area of Malacca has become a paradise for pirates. Last year alone, Malacca pirates successfully committed 189 cases, accounting for 40% of the global piracy incidents, and became the center of global piracy incidents.

Great powers compete for goals.

Because of its strategic position, Malacca Strait has always been the focus of international power struggle. At present, the Malacca Strait is controlled by Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. But the United States, Japan and even India are trying to control this important sea passage.

According to the global strategy of the United States, Malacca Strait, as the central link connecting two important strategic regions of Northeast Asia and Southwest Asia, is one of the 16 sea throats that must be controlled in the world. If we master the Straits of Malacca, we can influence and control the navigation channels of relevant countries and ensure the leading position of the United States in international competition and potential international conflicts.

Japan imports a lot of raw materials from Africa and the Middle East every year, especially 90% of its oil passes through the Straits of Malacca, so the Straits of Malacca are regarded as "the lifeline of the sea" by Japan.

India's fascination with the Straits of Malacca mainly stems from its geographical location. Once India takes control of the Straits of Malacca, it can build a maritime security barrier.

Japan wants to control the Straits of Malacca.

According to Indonesian media reports, Japan is "very concerned" about the security of the Straits of Malacca.

Malacca Strait is a strategic location in Southeast Asia and the main channel connecting the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. It bears the global13 freight volume and about 50% oil transportation volume, and is also an important channel for offshore oil imports of China, Japan and South Korea. In recent years, piracy in the Straits of Malacca has become increasingly rampant.

As early as 2000, the Japan Coast Guard participated in a joint anti-piracy exercise in the waters near the Straits of Malacca. It is also reported that Japan has developed a system called Tiger Gate, which can trigger an alarm before pirates board the ship. The "maritime hijacking alarm and ship tracking system" is more advanced. It sends signals six times a day to report the position of the ship. If a ship is robbed and pirates start to interfere with or destroy the system, it will give a warning in time by email and mobile phone. This technology to deal with pirates has aroused the interest of Southeast Asian countries. Experts believe that it is through this intangible and tangible influence that Japan slowly "pushed" into the Straits of Malacca.

Malacca Strait is known as Japan's "oil transportation lifeline", and 90% of Japan's crude oil transportation passes through it. 1999, a Japanese cargo ship carrying aluminum blocks worth1300 million yen was hijacked in the Straits of Malacca, and 17 crew members were all tied up. Japanese merchant ships have almost never been attacked by pirates, but this time Japan made excuses and repeatedly asked to send armed ships to Southeast Asia to fight pirates, hoping to let the Japanese Self-Defense Forces set foot in Southeast Asia. At the same time, Japan also used the fight against pirates as an excuse to cover the military strike force in Malacca. This year, it passed seven bills on "emergency legal system" to undertake "emergencies in surrounding areas". This "periphery" includes not only the Straits of Taiwan Province Province, but also the Straits of Malacca. Analysts pointed out that Japan wants to develop its military strength in the name of anti-piracy.

Experts pointed out that Japan's ultimate goal is only two: one is to control the Malacca Strait and protect Japan's oil transportation routes. The second is to promote Japan's military expansion by controlling the Straits of Malacca. Hong Kong News published an article entitled "Beware of the resurrection of Japanese militarism by pirates' corpses". The article said that Japan's fight against piracy, expansion of military strength and revival of militarism are not accidental moves, but part of Japan's foreign expansion strategy.

Straits of Malacca and China.

Since 1996 China became a net importer of oil, people have gradually paid attention to oil safety. The research report "China Seeking Energy Security" by RAND Corporation of the United States draws a conclusion that China's oil security still depends on the Malacca Strait sheltered by the US Navy. Moreover, the Straits of Malacca are really crowded and really unsafe. Nearly 450 million tons of crude oil imported by Japan, South Korea and China's Taiwan Province Province pass through the Straits of Malacca every year. Iron ore, coal and other bulk mineral products from Brazil and Australia are transported to the East Asian market and also to the Straits of Malacca.

Malacca Strait is also an important passage from China to the Indian Ocean. China's oil imports come from the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and other regions, and about 80% of imported crude oil is transported through the Malacca Strait. It is estimated that nearly 60% of the ships passing through the Straits of Malacca every day are China ships.