#Gravitas Thailand is set to abandon one of its biggest infrastructure projects.  A fresh government review concluded that a $30 billion proposed landbridge project aimed at bypassing the Malacca Strait is no longer financially viable and could cause serious environmental damage. 

Thailand Plans to Scrap Land Bridge Project Bypassing Malacca Strait  | GRAVITAS 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jakarta to a warm welcome from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, marking the start of an important diplomatic visit focused on trade, defence and cultural cooperation. The trip highlights the growing strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, two key Indo-Pacific powers.

PM Modi begins Indonesia visit: From Malacca strait to Brahmos

From the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait, a handful of narrow sea passages quietly control global trade, energy supplies and military movement. Nearly every major economy depends on these chokepoints for oil, gas and cargo shipments. Any disruption — whether conflict, piracy or accidents — can shake world markets overnight. This report explores eight of the world’s most strategic straits and why they remain crucial to global commerce and geopolitics.


8 Strategic Straits That Control Global Trade, Oil And World Shipping

China and Pakistan are reshaping global trade routes through the $62 billion [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)], a key [Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project] that connects Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Gwadar Port. This infrastructure, featuring highways and railways, bypasses the Malacca Strait, reducing maritime risks and shortening energy supply routes.


How China, Pakistan Are Reshaping Trade Routes

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong visits India and holds bilateral talks with PM Modi.
India is in talks to join joint patrols in the strategically vital Malacca Strait, a key global shipping route. The move aims to enhance maritime security and counter growing regional threats.



Singapore PM Lawrence Wong Visits India, Holds Bilateral Talks With PM Modi | WION

India is building a new naval base on the great Nicobar Island. This base will help India keep a check on China's activities along the Malacca Strait. Mohammed Saleh brings you a report.

Gravitas: India is building a naval base on Great Nicobar Island

The India-US drills on the high seas is a move to deter China. In fact, naval power could be India's answer to Chinese aggression. The exercises help New Delhi to only project its power but, it also adds to Xi Jinping’s headaches.

The Indian Ocean neighbourhood from the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the Strait of Malacca near the Andaman and Nicobar islands has more than 60 per cent of the world’s petroleum exports which moves from the shipping lane and India can choke China right there.

The Strait of Malacca has been a headache for China. In 2003, former Chinese president Hu Jintao had referred to it as “the Malacca dilemma" because China needs it open and India has the power to control it.

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The Malacca Strait is a shallow and narrow waterway. It is one of the most congested waterways in the world. Reports say around 75,000 ships pass through the Strait. It is also a seaway that links the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea and whoever controls it can place a stranglehold on China’s energy supplies.

In 2016, 80 per cent of China’s oil supplies passed through the Malacca Straits, if India were to control it, then China will lose access to a vital artery for global trade and Chinese ships will have to take a longer route.

According to an estimate, China’s shipping costs could increase by more than $64 million if the Strait of Malacca is closed for even a week, another estimate says alternative routes could cost Beijing anywhere between $84 to 220 billion a year.

A situation like that would add to China’s problems. It already faces a territorial dispute in the South China Sea and with tensions are growing last week as the United States declared that most of China's claims to the South China Sea illegal, New Delhi too has taken a stand.

The ministry of external affairs issued a statement which questioned China's attempts to grab territory in the South China Sea. China knows the Strait of Malacca is its achilles heel, so, it has been sending ships close to the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Last year, Chinese naval vessel Shin Yang-1 was chased away by the Indian navy which was allegedly snooping near the islands. Now, with drills in the area, New Delhi has sent a message to Beijing that it won’t have its way on the high seas.

The India-US drills on the high seas is a move to deter China. In fact, naval power could be India's answer to Chinese aggression. The exercises help New Delhi to only project its power but, it also adds to Xi Jinping’s headaches.

The India-US drills on the high seas is a move to deter China. In fact, naval power could be India's answer to Chinese aggression. The exercises help New Delhi to only project its power but, it also adds to Xi Jinping’s headaches. The Indian Ocean neighbourhood from the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the Strait of Malacca near the Andaman and Nicobar islands has more than 60 per cent of the world’s petroleum exports which moves from the shipping lane and India can choke China right there. The Strait of Malacca has been a headache for China. In 2003, former Chinese president Hu Jintao had referred to it as “the Malacca dilemma" because China needs it open and India has the power to control it. The Malacca Strait is a shallow and narrow waterway. It is one of the most congested waterways in the world. Reports say around 75,000 ships pass through the Strait. It is also a seaway that links the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea and whoever controls it can place a stranglehold on China’s energy supplies. In 2016, 80 per cent of China’s oil supplies passed through the Malacca Straits, if India were to control it, then China will lose access to a vital artery for global trade and Chinese ships will have to take a longer route. According to an estimate, China’s shipping costs could increase by more than $64 million if the Strait of Malacca is closed for even a week, another estimate says alternative routes could cost Beijing anywhere between $84 to 220 billion a year. A situation like that would add to China’s problems. It already faces a territorial dispute in the South China Sea and with tensions are growing last week as the United States declared that most of China's claims to the South China Sea illegal, New Delhi too has taken a stand. The ministry of external affairs issued a statement which questioned China's attempts to grab territory in the South China Sea. China knows the Strait of Malacca is its achilles heel, so, it has been sending ships close to the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Last year, Chinese naval vessel Shin Yang-1 was chased away by the Indian navy which was allegedly snooping near the islands. Now, with drills in the area, New Delhi has sent a message to Beijing that it won’t have its way on the high seas.

China's 'Malacca dilemma': How India can control the Dragon on the high seas

United States Navy's aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has arrived in the Indian Ocean to take part in a naval exercise with Indian warships near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

WION Dispatch: USS Nimitz entered Indian Ocean crossing Malacca strait

US Navy's USS Nimitz, the world's largest warship, is likely to conduct a drill with Indian Navy's off the coast of Andaman & Nicobar island. Nimitz is already present in the Indian ocean and came into the ocean via Malacca Strait. Watch report

Indian navy to conduct joint exercise with US warships; Strong strategic signal to China?

America's largest warship likely to exercise with Indian Navy amid Chinese aggression

The frozen body of an Indonesian man has been found aboard a detained Chinese fishing vessel, authorities said Thursday, adding that they suspected foul play in the crew member's death.

Indonesian police said that they intercepted two boats in the Malacca Strait this week after receiving a tip-off that a crew member had died aboard one of the vessels.

The 20-year-old may have been tortured and his body had been kept inside a freezer of the Lu Huang Yuan Yu 117 since late June, said Riau province police spokesman Harry Golden Hart. "The victim had physical injuries, but we're conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death," he told AFP.

Dozens of crew members hailing from China, Indonesia and the Philippines were being questioned in connection with the man's death. Anti-trafficking experts say the fishing industry is riddled with forced labour and exploited workers can face non-payment, overwork, violence and death.&nbsp;

Indonesia and Southeast Asia are major sources of such labour and unscrupulous brokers target the poor and uneducated with promises of good wages at sea. In June, two Indonesian crew members jumped off a Chinese boat to escape what they described as abuse and horrific conditions.

They were later rescued by an Indonesian fishing boat and police said Thursday they had arrested nine people over the abuse claims. A month earlier, three dead Indonesian crew members were thrown off a Chinese-flagged vessel into the sea.

Jakarta later said it was told that the men had died of illness, while Beijing described the sea burials as being in line with international law.

The frozen body of an Indonesian man has been found aboard a detained Chinese fishing vessel, authorities said Thursday, adding that they suspected foul play in the crew member's death.

The frozen body of an Indonesian man has been found aboard a detained Chinese fishing vessel, authorities said Thursday, adding that they suspected foul play in the crew member's death. Indonesian police said that they intercepted two boats in the Malacca Strait this week after receiving a tip-off that a crew member had died aboard one of the vessels. The 20-year-old may have been tortured and his body had been kept inside a freezer of the Lu Huang Yuan Yu 117 since late June, said Riau province police spokesman Harry Golden Hart. "The victim had physical injuries, but we're conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death," he told AFP. Dozens of crew members hailing from China, Indonesia and the Philippines were being questioned in connection with the man's death. Anti-trafficking experts say the fishing industry is riddled with forced labour and exploited workers can face non-payment, overwork, violence and death. Indonesia and Southeast Asia are major sources of such labour and unscrupulous brokers target the poor and uneducated with promises of good wages at sea. In June, two Indonesian crew members jumped off a Chinese boat to escape what they described as abuse and horrific conditions. They were later rescued by an Indonesian fishing boat and police said Thursday they had arrested nine people over the abuse claims. A month earlier, three dead Indonesian crew members were thrown off a Chinese-flagged vessel into the sea. Jakarta later said it was told that the men had died of illness, while Beijing described the sea burials as being in line with international law.

Indonesian found in freezer on Chinese fishing vessel in Malacca Strait, suspected to be 'tortured'

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Thailand Plans to Scrap Land Bridge Project Bypassing Malacca Strait | GRAVITAS