The Construction Capability, Challenges and the Corresponding Countermeasures of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road

Abstract

This article focuses on the connotation, capabilities, challenges, risks and the corresponding countermeasures of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR). The article states that the core of the MSR strategy is the cultural concepts of “balancing convergence and divergence” and “inclusive development” as well as the moral concepts of “mutual benefits” and “Do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you”. The strategy will uphold the basic principle of “open cooperation, harmonious inclusiveness, market operation, and mutual benefits.” Practical cooperation and joint building of the MSR will always be in the primacy of the strategy. Emphasis must be put on leveraging the comparative advantages of China and the countries along the MSR to let them coordinate with each other and reach consensus through “joint consultation” and form joint effort through “jointly building” the MSR. Countries can only achieve cooperation and mutual benefits and promote rebalancing of the regional and global economy through sharing each other’s strengths, risks and interests. The MSR strategy is composed of various economic cooperation projects between China and the countries along the MSR. However, it is also influenced by certain political and security factors and thus has geopolitical implications. But in the end, what connects the far-away regions is the economic interest. As a base and examplar, Southeast Asia is an important region for the MSR strategy.