Exploring the strategic threshold of global chokepoints, China's twenty-year 'Malacca dilemma' regarding energy imports, and how maritime vulnerability drives naval capabilities.
China's Central Committee and State Council invited 60 experts to Beidaihe from August 1 to 7. The selection of participants highlights Beijing's focus on technological self-reliance and the 15th five-year plan.
Beijing faces calls from a Shanghai Maritime University law professor to enact a dedicated law protecting undersea fibre-optic cables amid rising global threats to critical ocean infrastructure.
Two tankers reported attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, with one damaged, as US-Iran tensions escalate. The incidents follow renewed US strikes on Iran and President Trump's threats, raising concerns about maritime security in the critical oil transit chokepoint.
The first island chain has become a key arena for military competition between China and the US, with the PLA making progress in areas like dual-carrier operations and nuclear deterrence. The US and its allies are responding by expanding base access in the Philippines and conducting sophisticated defense drills.
A new multi-modal freight corridor via Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan reduces China-Afghanistan delivery times from 2-3 months to 30 days, though security and capacity concerns persist.
The US-Iran war highlighted the fragility of global supply chains, dependent on maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions led to increased costs and logistical problems, necessitating "war-room planning" for future crises.
烏克蘭國防部推出「Brave1 Market」平台與「ePoints」獎勵制度，已有逾400作戰單位採購50萬套無人機及裝備，訂單金額逾330億格里夫納，有效提升戰場補給效率與國產軍備部署。
Japan and Indonesia are advancing defense cooperation, with discussions focusing on the transfer of decommissioned Asagiri-class destroyers from Japan to Indonesia. This move aims to enhance Indonesia's subsurface awareness and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
India's Great Nicobar Island project gains strategic attention amid the Hormuz blockade, potentially disrupting Chinese supply chains and alleviating the 'Malacca dilemma'.
Thailand's Royal Thai Navy faces challenges in its goal to operate eight modern frigates by 2037, as the Budget Bureau cut funding for a second frigate from the 2027 budget. The navy commander stated the frigates are still needed and the request will be resubmitted for the 2028 budget.
Hoover Institution fellow Eyck Freymann explains what the Iran war and the blockade of the Straight of Hormuz reveals about modern economic chokepoints, geopolitics and war strategies.
Beijing has launched a research initiative involving state-owned firms and universities to protect critical trade routes and overseas assets, following disruptions caused by the ongoing war in Iran.
A Chinese analyst identified only as Gu claims US efforts to withdraw from Iran are driven by Washington's strategy to contain China and Russia, particularly China. The analyst dismissed US security documents prioritizing the western hemisphere as "merely a feint" and suggested Beijing should build a strong maritime force and establish communication mechanisms with all countries, including the US.
First, it was the Panama Canal, then came the Strait of Hormuz. What could be next? America’s actions in the two major shipping channels have grabbed headlines, and global attention is shifting to the strategic importance and potential risks of other critical trade waterways. Some of the chokepoints were examined in a US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) investigation in March last year of unfavourable shipping conditions, signalling America’s heightened focus on international routes and...
