The Suez Canal is no longer as beneficial being used as a chokepoint with the Houthis controlling the Bab Al-Mandab. Even without controlling the passage directly, the Houthis can just sit around lobbing drones and missiles from Yemen and entry to the Suez becomes a gamble to take and shipowners and insurers will know what to do.
Now, the Panama Canal is dying as well, with climate change depriving it of fresh water for raising ships transversing. In fact, traffic has already dropped massively over the last two years. I believe other South American countries are exploring building alternatives to the Panama with Chinese backing.
So, the USA is now using allies to blockade China's trade routes. But China is now building new trade routes, not through USA allies, but through neutral countries and countries having bones to pick with the USA. The fact that these countries are benefiting from such route diversion is a bonus for them. Why should they not welcome new trade opportunities offered by such infrastructures?
Anonymous
1 comment:
China's trade with South America is covered by the Chinese built port in Peru, The Port of Chancay. So, Panama is less important for Chinese ships. The route to Port of Chancay takes a shorter time and bypassing Los Angeles en route to South America. Apart from that, China is still working with Nicaragua and Ecuador for an alternative to the Panama Canal, although that is no longer pivotal.
China has already figured out alternative routes to bypass the Straits of Malacca and the Suez Canal. Some routes will go across land to link up with the BRI, while others like the Arctic route provide relief in times of conflict.
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