An Analysis On The Participation Of China In The Security Affairs Of The Malacca Strait

In the era of globalization, the ocean and the maritime thorou-ghfares have played more and more important roles in connecting the many nations and districts and maintaining the political and economical orders of the world. Malacca strait, as the main transporting thorou-ghfare on China's import and export trade line,the security situation of which has much to do with the economic security and overall national security of China. In order to confront the various traditional and non–traditional security threats, China has to overcome numerous obstacles, take part in the cooperations relating the security of the Malacca strait actively and Safeguard the security of the strategic thorou-ghfare concerning the crucial interest of China in multilateral international mechanisms.There are three parts of this essay. Firstly, estimate the significance of the Malacca strait for china by analyzing large amount of data .Secondly, Inspect the security situation of the Malacca strait district and analyze the threats caused by the various traditional and non–traditional security factors Comprehensively. Thirdly, offer policy suggestions on the base of estimating the role of China in the security issues of the Malacca strait district subjectively: 1. Strengthen the influence of china's soft power in the Malacca strait district, enhance the mutual confidence between china and the coastal nations to gain Understandings and Supports from them. 2. Deepen the economic cooperation between china and the coastal nations, make benefits from the"flow-over"effect for the security cooperation by means of economical interdependence. 3.Take part in the process of the Malacca strait security mechanism under the principle of multilateralism, realize the strategic interests of China in the Malacca strait district in multilateral international mechanisms.The first part of the essay is the strategic Status of the Malacca strait in the security of maritime thorou-ghfares of China. Step by step, analyze the significance of the maritime thorou-ghfares in the globalization era, the reliance of China on the maritime thorou-ghfares and the significance of the Malacca strait for the maritime transportation of China by analyzing and Comparing data, Economic globalization, as the main body of globalization, is featured by the Cross-border flowing of the economical essentials. The ocean and the maritime thorou-ghfares are Geographical necessities for this Cross-border flowing .After reform and opening, China has blended in the global economical processes , becomes one of the main trade nation and the manufacturing center. With the rise of the degree of dependence on foreign trade, the prosperity of China has relied on the oversea resources and markets day by day. The significance of maritime thorou-ghfares are more prominent as a result. The Malacca strait is the key point on China's marine trade lines , the majority of the imported oil resource has to be transported through it. Thus , the security of the Malacca strait has much to do with the energetic, economical and strategic security of China.The second part of the essay is the security situation and challenge of the Malacca strait. In this part , the threats caused by the various traditional and non–traditional security factors towards China are estimated comprehensively. First, the Malacca strait faces serious navigation security problem. On the narrow and busy route, ships are easy to collide each other. Pirates and terrorists are more active after the Cold War. The frequent pirate and terrorist attacks have caused great damages to the victim ships and nations. Those factors have already threaten the safety of the ships on the strait. Secondly, the outside big powers, such as the US , Japan and India, attempt to involve in the Malacca strait district. The US has longed to realize the military existence in the district. Japan also tries to exert economical and political influences in the district, so does India. For china, the Malacca strait is an important marine security barrier and the key point on China's marine trade line. The diplomatic actions of the above nations have become a potential threat to China.The third part of the essay includes the main content of it . In this part, firstly, estimate the present situation of the Malacca strait security mechanism. Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are the co-owners of the sovereignty of the Malacca strait, undertaking the international obligation of safeguarding the security of the strait. The three nations has engaged in the cooperational actions such as joint marine and sky patrols , and tried to obtain the financial ,technical and information aids from international organizations and the main users of the strait. Secondly, estimate the role that China could play in the Malacca strait security mechanism subjectively. In the construction of the security mechanism, there are competitions between big powers like China, the US, Japan, and the coastal nations tried to benefit from it; Meanwhile, some negative factors in the relationship between China and the coastal nations have also restricted the functions of China. Finally, offer three suggestions on the further diplomatic actions of China: 1. Strengthen the influence of china's soft power in the Malacca strait district, enhance the mutual confidence between china and the coastal nations to gain understandings and supports from them. The attraction of China's traditional culture and the unique developing mode , the prospect of China's peaceful rise, the responsible nation image of China are all useful active factors. 2.Deepen the economic cooperation between china and the coastal nations, make benefits from the"flow-over"effect for the security cooperation by means of economical interdependence. 3. Take part in the process of the Malacca strait security mechanism under the principles of multilateralism, realize the strategic interests of China in the Malacca strait district in multilateral international mechanisms. In the national level, multilateralism should be regarded as the guideline of China to participate in and influence the construction of security mechanism; In the mechanical and notion level , multilateralism should be obeyed by all the nations that participate in the cooperation of the Malacca strait security affairs as the top principle and faith. At the moment, The ARF could become a basis for the international cooperation between all the nations guided by multilateralism to safeguard the security of the Malacca strait. Under the framework of ARF, China should uphold the leading role of the three coastal nations ,providing public goods such as financial, technical and information support to the mechanism, coordinate and interact with other big powers in the"Cooperative Security"mode. Then, China could play a more important role in the Malacca strait security affairs and the security interest of china in the Malacca strait district will be safeguarded and realized much more effectively.