A New Maritime Security Architecture for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road: The South China Sea and the Persian Gulf

Mohammad Ali Zohourian

doi:10.4013/rechtd.2020.122.05

Abstract

China and Iran have the ancient gate of Maritime Silk Road, as well as two new superhighways within this road, namely Strait of Hormuz and Malacca Strait. Unlike the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security in the Malacca Strait needs to be redesigned and re-established by littoral states for the safe corridor. The aim of this study is to find out the new concept and classification of maritime security, namely direct and indirect insecurity elements. This study illustrates that the most remarkable direct and indirect elements are respectively piracy, armed robbery, and external state presence. It is acknowledged that the continuous and dangerous presence of an external state is the indirect insecurity element. In the light of the USA's violation and destabilizing activities in the Persian Gulf and the South China Sea, its presence and passage are considered as noninnocent activities, as these are prejudicial to the good order, peace and security of states located along the coast. Therefore, a new doctrine called the Doctrine of No Sheriff is offered in this article to possibly prevent the uprising of hegemonies in every region in the future.

Highlights

Since ancient times, the seas have been a principal platform for trade and communications
Piracy occurs in different areas around the world, 966 Piracy and Armed Robbery incidents occurred in the South China Sea (SCS), 331 Piracy and Armed Robbery acts happened in the Malacca Strait between 2007 and 2017 (IMO, 2019)
While only 14 Piracy and Armed Robbery acts were noticed for the duration of the last ten years in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz (IMO, 2019), so they were entirely safe as Iranian naval forces controlled and protected the Persian Gulf and the vital Strait of Hormuz

Summary

A New Maritime Security Architecture for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

Uma nova arquitetura de segurança marítima para a Rota da Seda Marítima do Século XXI: o Mar do Sul da China e o Golfo Pérsico. Resumo China e Irã possuem o antigo portão da Rota Marítima da Seda, além de duas novas vias nessa mesma rota, a saber, o Estreito de Ormuz e o Estreito de Malaca. Este estudo ilustra que os elementos diretos e indiretos mais notáveis são, respectivamente, pirataria, assalto à mão armada e presença de um Estado externo. Reconhece-se que a presença contínua e perigosa de um Estado externo é um elemento indireto de insegurança. À luz das atividades de violação e desestabilização por parte dos EUA no Golfo Pérsico e no Mar da China Meridional, sua presença e passagem são consideradas atividades não-inocentes, pois são prejudiciais à boa ordem, paz e segurança dos Estados localizados ao longo da costa. Zohourian I A New Maritime Security Architecture for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road

Introduction

A Brief History of the Silk Road

Findings

Conclusion