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Strategic Vision vol. 11, no. 52 (May, 2022)
China Looks Seaward Beijing shaping maritime strategy to safeguard strategic Chinese interests Hon-min Yau
T
he geopolitical pressure that had built up in the Donbas region since 2014 finally erupted with Russia’s “special military operation” against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The war triggered a tectonic shift in global security and created one of the largest refugee migrations in modern-day Europe. However, by the end of April 2022, the events of the war had deviated from Russia’s original wish for a quick and decisive Blitzkrieg-style operation and had turned into another 21st century war of attrition. While much of the explanation for this development centered around the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the iron will of
the Ukrainian people to defend themselves, this article highlights the importance of supply chains in this conflict and how this single factor can be used to illuminate China’s two-ocean strategy in the IndoPacific region. One of the distinct features of the 2022 RussiaUkraine War is the collective effort of Western sanctions on Russia. By 8 April, 2022, the European Union had imposed five sanctions on Russia. This action expelled Russian banks from the global financial SWIFT system and banned Russian personnel and entities from operating in the European market. Most significantly, the measures also denied Russian
photo: Dhammika Heenpella Construction site of the Magampura port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. The Chinese company CMPort owns a 70 percent stake and a 99-year lease on the port.
Dr. Hon-min Yau is associate professor and director of Graduate Institute of International Security (GIIS), College of International and National Defense Affairs (INDAC), ROC National Defense University. He can be reached at cf22517855@gmail.com