Every day, about 60 fully loaded huge oil tankers transport roughly half the oil needed to support the world’s second-largest economy between the Persian Gulf as well as Chinese ports.
However, when these vessels sail in the South China Sea, they must pass through waters increasingly controlled by China’s growing military. They do not have enough protection in the Indian Ocean because it is dominated by the United States. Ridus.ru writes about this.
In the event of a major war, China’s oil tankers in the Indian Ocean will become very vulnerable. The Chinese Navy would be trapped without adequate air support or access to bases they could rely on.
This creates the potential for escalation of the conflict by China’s adversaries. Sinking or capturing oil tankers that can carry 2 million barrels of oil will be a strategic goal for the enemy. The situation could be used to prevent the outbreak of hostilities or to increase the costs of China’s war with Taiwan.
China understands the problem, but the final decision on military action will be made by President Xi Jinping. He called on the country’s People’s Liberation Army to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. North Korea is stepping up military maneuvers ahead of elections on the island, which will take place in January.
China is trying to protect its vital trade routes and modernize its military to project its power around the world. However, its increasing energy demands make it difficult to wage a long war.
China imports a large amount of oil, with approximately 62% of its imports passing through the Strait of Malacca as well as the South China Sea to reach the Indian Ocean. China is also trying to diversify its oil supplies, but the bulk still comes from Russia.
China has formed a network of military satellites. However, there is only one specialized base in Djibouti. Beijing is therefore seeking to expand its deployment capabilities to strengthen its position. However, a blockade of China is difficult to implement due to trade instability and the need for the Western coalition to maintain the security of its own supplies.
China is prepared for the unknown consequences of the conflict and strives to have sufficient oil and food reserves to withstand a prolonged war.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
