China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, Energy Security and SLOC Access

Abstract

In recent years, the Chinese leadership has increasingly turned its attention towards the maritime domain. This article discusses Beijing's latest attempts to secure China's maritime energy supply chain across the Indian Ocean region and the South China Sea through which the majority of its seaborne energy imports transit. As China increasingly relies on the seaborne energy trade, Beijing has come to attach more importance to the security of the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) and has a growing strategic interest in ensuring unimpeded access in these two areas. In this paper, the author discusses Beijing's efforts in the context of China's maritime power aspirations, particularly the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative which is promoted by the current Chinese President, Xi Jinping. The author argues that Beijing's latest maritime agenda will be hampered by the strategic distrust and political risks China faces in the Asian region.