Maritime Silk Road

China has increasingly worked on their （一带一路）"One Belt, One Road" project which was initiated by Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping, in order to create more connectivity throughout a majority of the world.

They have started by land by making deals with Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India to create a trade route similarly reflecting the old Silk Road. They have also endeavored on creating a "new silk road" through the sea.

In 2013, in Beijing, China, the Chinese government revealed that they want to create a maritime passageway through open and inclusive "blue partnerships". This has not only allowed better trade routes to be enacted but it has also allowed China to boost infrastructure development across Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Indian Ocean, and East Africa. Already, the initiative has already created more tourism from rebuilding the areas around the route. By doing so has enhanced China's impact and interconnections across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Directly, China boosting infrastructure has already reduced poverty, promoted employment, and maintained maritime relations. However, it also has allowed China more access to needed goods like oil from other countries. The Maritime Silk Road Society claims that they have four goals that they want to accomplish is, "to complement and support One Belt One Road, to research and explore developmental opportunities; foster exchanges in trade, financial, economic, cultural, academic and educational exchanges; and to enhance public understanding". Although, many think China's investments are very risky because they are putting money into unstable countries, China wants the create a "string of pearls". The "string of pearls" comes from countries not being able to pay off their debts to China and instead of paying them, they lease their ports to China for a certain amount of years. This has allowed China to take control of ports directly, which allows them to control the trade routes.

The concept first emerged in General Secretary Xi Jinping's meeting with the Indonesian Parliament. It was originally proposed to relate specifically to the ESEAN. However, they have since widened their view. The string of pearls is often viewed as a military resource, providing both economic and diplomatic services. It would allow China to not only create new trade routes, but to open naval bases that would monitor and protect outgoing and incoming ships.

## Bibliography

“Maritime Silk Road Fosters 'Blue Partnerships'.” *Customs around the Mid-Autumn Festival*, www.scio.gov.cn/31773/35507/35520/Document/1555744/1555744.htm.

Economic Times. “China Unveils Maritime Silk Road Plans.” *Facebook Data Breach: Facebook Sells Your Data, Says Steve Bannon - The Economic Times*, Economic Times, 20 June 2017, m-economictimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/m.economictimes.com/news/defence/china-unveils-maritime-silk-road-plans/amp\_articleshow/59238384.cms?usqp=mq331AQCCAE=&\_js\_v=0.1#amp\_tf=From %1$s.

Duchâtel, Mathieu, and Alexandre Sheldon Duplaix. “Blue China: Navigating the Maritime Silk Road to Europe.” *ECFR*, 23 Apr. 1970, www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/blue\_china\_navigating\_the\_maritime\_silk\_road\_to\_europe.

“China Boosts Tourism in Countries along Maritime Silk Road: Report.” *Quotable Quotes on Belt and Road from World Intellectual, Business Personnel - Xinhua | English.news.cn*, www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-05/29/c\_137215425.htm

“China's Maritime Silk Road: Strategic and Economic Implications for the Indo-Pacific Region.” *The New Southbound Policy | Center for Strategic and International Studies*, 8 June 2018, www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-maritime-silk-road.

1. ↑ http://maritimesilkroad.org.hk/en/aboutUs/ourObjectives