The New Maritime Silk Road, A Historic Choice

China has made striking achievements in more than 30 years of reform and opening-up, and is currently the second largest economy in the world. However, under complicated and volatile international political and economic situations, China has had to deepen reforms comprehensively, stimulate change with further opening-up and construct an open economic system in order to become a world power. The proposal of a modern Maritime Silk Road suits the sea change entailed by more reforms, greater opening-up and the transformation and upgrading of China’s economy mode. The concept is to build a maritime economic corridor with great development potential. The implementation of this strategy will help enhance economic growth between inland China and coastal areas, and ultimately, much further afield, resulting in positive interaction between China and the world. The strategy will also allow China to make full use of resources in domestic and international markets, facilitating foreign companies to enter China and Chinese businesses to go global. It will also accelerate accessibility in both coastal and inland regions, expanding the range and depth of opening-up and cooperation.

 On entering the 21st century, economic globalization accelerated. Major countries compete for development initiatives and dominance in international relationships. The U.S. has made a high-profile return to Asia. It has stimulated the progress of negotiations towards the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and simultaneously promoted the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the European Union. Agreements on the TPP and the TTIP will have a deep impact on the global economy and, specifically, on China’s economy and trade. The multilateral trading system of the World Trade Organization will, therefore, be challenged or even face the danger of being undermined by new rules. Both the TPP and the TTIP, led by the U.S., reject China. When agreements between these organizations are reached, they are likely to form the new rules of the world and China will be in a passive position and lose its voice. So, despite being the second largest economy in the world, China could find itself on the outskirts of the global arena. However, through implementation of the New Maritime Silk Road China is seeking a proactive stance in global governance and shaping its future global strategies in light of the latest world situations. The New Maritime Silk Road is all about helping China develop from an economic giant to an economic power and taking China from a regional power to a responsible world leader.

Strategic Positioning

Two routes of the New Maritime Silk Road are proposed: one crossing the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca and the Indian Ocean, reaching Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and some countries in Europe; and the other passing through the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Sea of Japan, connecting North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and eastern Russia. These routes will provide a channel to deepen cooperation in economy and trade and expand cultural exchanges between China and the countries en route. They will also improve infrastructures in the region. Therefore, they will contribute to common development, mutual negotiation and cultural integration between China and relevant countries.

Specifically, to deepen cooperation in economy and trade means innovating cooperative methods and expanding the fields of interaction between China and the countries along the New Maritime Silk Road. It is envisaged that such interaction would enable all parties to realize a win-win situation and prosper together.

Improving infrastructures can be best explained in terms of increasing the investment in infrastructure projects and making proper plans so that the infrastructures can satisfy the needs of the development of economic cooperation.

In the process of building the New Maritime Silk Road, both China and other countries should negotiate and support one another. That is why enhancing communication is vital in the process of the route’s creation. It is not only China’s mission, but also a responsibility of all the nations that will benefit from another trade passage. Constant communication and mutual understanding are key to the success of the New Maritime Silk Road.

Expanding cultural exchanges is about exchange between contemporary cultures and driving a mix of diverse cultures to benefit cooperation in economy and trade.

The 21st century Maritime Silk Road not only encourages economic development and deepens the cooperation and exchange between China and other countries, but more importantly, it influences the political and economic climate of all parties. Its creation will reshape the future.

A New System

The notion of a 21st century Maritime Silk Road embodies friendly exchanges, mutual benefit and common development in maritime cooperation. China and its neighbors need to enhance policy negotiation, discuss interactions, and promote the growth of the New Maritime Silk Road together. The following are my suggestions for the smooth development of the sea route.