Isn't the route through the Straits just a convenience?
How much would it cost to route shipping elsewhere?
Google Earth says that even a wide sweep that avoids the South China Sea would add about 4,000 km to the current 9,000 km voyage from the Gulf states. With that option, why would anyone bother to challenge China in the Straits, unless this is about potential blue-water anti-shipping warfare?
I really don't understand. Hormuz, yes, no other way out, but Malacca?
Islamophobia has something to do with fear:
-phobia
1. a combining form meaning “fear,” occurring in loanwords from Greek ( hydrophobia)...
phobia [( foh -bee-uh)]
An extreme and often unreasonable fear of some object, concept, situation, or person.
"escape-from-the-Straits-of-Malacca strategy"
Isn't the route through the Straits just a convenience?
How much would it cost to route shipping elsewhere?
Google Earth says that even a wide sweep that avoids the South China Sea would add about 4,000 km to the current 9,000 km voyage from the Gulf states. With that option, why would anyone bother to challenge China in the Straits, unless this is about potential blue-water anti-shipping warfare?
I really don't understand. Hormuz, yes, no other way out, but Malacca?
Ah. Important point.
What is the West (not) doing, then?
Western intent may favor petroleum flowing.
Russian intent may favor it stopping, preferably permanently.