China is present in 57 of the 100 most important ports in the world, in a strategy that aims to control strategic maritime routes without needing to directly dominate international straits. Chinese companies have adopted an indirect approach, buying stakes, financing projects, building infrastructure and taking over the operation of port terminals along routes crucial to global trade.
The country is not limited to controlling passage points, but also dominates the production of essential equipment for maritime transport. China manufactures approximately 95% of the containers used in the world, which gives it significant power over the entire global logistics chain for goods.
This strategy allows China to exert influence over the flow of oil, gas and millions of containers that pass through the main maritime corridors, without the need for direct confrontations over the control of straits such as Ormuz, frequently a stage for geopolitical tensions.
