Could China break through "Malacca Dilemma"? 
Energy security, particularly oil supply security has become a major concern for Chinese government and China's heavy use of the Malacca straits in Southeast Asia is emblematic of this concern. The Malacca Strait is shortest route between the Indian and Pacific oceans and is one of the world’s most important waterways. Over 50% of China's crude oil imports come from the Middle East and this figure is expected to reach 75% by 2015. Any block in free and safe transportation of energy resources to China could derail its economic growth. Experts have paid attention to China’s Malacca dilemma for years and raised several proposals to unlock the restriction of Malacca Strait on China’s energy supply. However, the prevailing descriptions on Malacca dilemma such as the saturation in carrying capability of sea lane, the threats from pirates and terrorists activities and foreign power’s blockade set in the strait during war period, overestimate the hazard of Malacca dilemma. The most pressing problem lies in China’s over-reliance in Malacca Straits and crude oil from the Middle East. As countermeasures, China should bolster the development of supertankers to guarantee the oil shipment from abroad to be undertaken by its own vessels. China also needs to expand its participation in the administration of sea lane in Malacca Strait and seeks more cooperative interaction with the main users of the strait and countries around it. At the same time, China should send up the investment in pipelines that that bypass the Malacca Strait to reduce the reliance. Some experts suggest the buildup of a powerful navy force to secure China's oil transit lines at sea, how do you think of it? Necessary It would raise neighboring countries' concern   |
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