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21st Century Maritime Silk Road – Overview

Maritime Silk Road History

The Maritime Silk Road is a development initiative proposed by the Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2013. The project has a budget of USD $40B and aims to connect countries through modern transportation links. To support the initiative, China has built a rail link between Mombasa and Nairobi. In 2015, China released a document titled 'Vision and Actions' which outlines the initiative's directions and framework.

List of Maritime Silk Road Ports

The initiative involves several ports across the world, which China has contracted rights to between 2015 and 2022. These ports include Port Darwin and Newcastle Port in Australia, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Feydhoo Finolhu in the Maldives, Muara in Brunei, Kuantan in Malaysia, Kyaukpyu in Myanmar, Obock in Djibouti, Malacca Gateway, and Gwadar in Pakistan.

• Port Darwin, Australia: 99 years
• Newcastle Port, Australia: 98 years
• Hambantota, Sri Lanka: 99 years
• Feydhoo Finolhu, Maldives: 50 years
• Muara, Brunei: 60 years
• Kuantan, Malaysia: 60 years
• Kyaukpyu, Myanmar: 50 years
• Obock, Djibouti: 10 years
• Malacca Gateway: 99 Years
• Gwadar, Pakistan: 40 years

The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Tourism Opportunities and Impacts

• Although the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road does not prevent the EU from pursuing democratic and human rights ideals, if the EU fails to consider the demands of individual states and their need for growth, it will be sidelined as China expands its involvement along the Road.
• To ensure long-term regional stability, the EU would benefit from adopting a proactive strategic policy for the Indo-Pacific, considering the security implications of the 21st Maritime Silk Road.
• Instead of taking sides, the EU should promote a peaceful transition to new regional security arrangements concerning the 21st Maritime Silk Road, involving its members and leveraging the interplay between maritime and terrestrial security spaces for economic, diplomatic, and security benefits.
• Given the shared priorities of combating piracy, counterterrorism, and ensuring safe trade between the EU and the Indian Ocean, the EU may choose to establish and enforce a code of conduct related to the 21st Maritime Silk Road.
• They can opt for a track 2 platform similar to the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific or strategic groupings of external regional actors in bilateral, trilateral, or quadrilateral formats.
• In partnership with the Silk Road Economic Belt and Sea Initiative, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road aims to bridge a significant global gap in connectivity between land and sea, potentially leading to positive development and cooperation.
• The Road intensifies competition for development assistance and connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region, contributing to increased militarization.

21st Century Maritime Silk Road – Challenges

• The South China Sea and countries like Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia have several unresolved territorial disputes, which create challenges for the Maritime Silk Road.
• The proposed routes may further increase uncertainties and tensions among these nations.
• Some experts believe that the Road initiative could help resolve conflicts by creating opportunities for mutual benefit.
• The success of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road will largely depend on the economic conditions of the participating countries.
• China will likely have to bear the cost of supporting the economic development of poorer nations.
• China may use its political power and demand unfair concessions instead of providing financial assistance, which can hinder the participation of some countries in the MSR initiative.
• Another challenge is gaining India's support to ensure a successful outcome for the initiative.
• Considering its own security interests, the Indian government may prefer to exert control over the regions within its sphere of influence rather than letting other nations take charge.