In ancient times when humans had not yet discovered the full picture of the Earth, Asia, Europe and Africa were the main areas of human activities, and the Indian Ocean was located at the center of various human civilizations. Then the Indian Ocean was the main channel of trade between different countries. Even today, 50% of all shipping and 70% of oil transport in the world passes through the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean is linked to world peace and prosperity. In addition to providing commercial routes and energy resources, the Indian Ocean also contains important maritime traffic arteries such as the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz and the Mandeb Strait, which are known to be the most strategic waterways in the world. Most of the world’s cargo and energy transport passes through the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz. The Mandeb Strait, on the other hand, lies between the Horn of Africa and Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Major trading countries of the world depend on the security of these straits. For example, China, the world’s largest trading nation, will import and export a total of US$6 trillion in 2021, and most of its import and export goods pass through the Indian Ocean. Pirates once seriously threatened the maritime traffic of various countries, so many countries, including China and India, have sent naval ships to the region to escort them. China’s “Belt and Road” initiative has made the Maritime Silk Road through the Indian Ocean a platform for international economic and infrastructure cooperation. China has invested heavily in infrastructure projects such as ports, roads and railways in countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The move is aimed at strengthening regional connectivity, promoting regional economic development and further facilitating international trade. China is building more port facilities in several places including Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Gwadar in Pakistan and Djibouti in the Gulf, as well as in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Seychelles. The sole purpose of building these infrastructure is to facilitate and ensure smooth flow of international trade and transport.
However, there are always those in the world who are trying to turn the Indian Ocean into an area of ​​military dispute. Major powers seek to achieve their strategic goals by maintaining a strong military presence in the Indian Ocean, but this behavior would jeopardize the existing international trade order. The Indian Ocean should be a sea of ​​world peace and prosperity. The Indian Ocean has played such a role for centuries and will continue to perform such missions in the future as well. Only by following the concept of peaceful development and taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the Indian Ocean Region can we achieve long-term prosperity.
(Credits-China Media Group, Beijing)
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