These developments, significantly, are in sync with [[China]]'s much pronounced Maritime Silk Route strategy — a prominent feature of the upcoming 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). The maritime route is a proposed sea network of ports, coastal infrastructure projects beginning in Quanzhou in the Fujian province and culminating in the northern [[Mediterranean Sea]]. By virtue of this fresh strategy, [[Beijing]] seeks to gain greater access to the strategic pathways of the [[Indian Ocean]], alleviated access to [[Persian Gulf]] oil — which consequently shall reduce its dependence on the passage through the [[Straits of Malacca]] — a key potential vulnerability for China in the event of a future conflict.<ref>http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysis/china-eyes-18-overseas-naval-bases</ref> | These developments, significantly, are in sync with [[China]]'s much pronounced Maritime Silk Route strategy — a prominent feature of the upcoming 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). The maritime route is a proposed sea network of ports, coastal infrastructure projects beginning in Quanzhou in the Fujian province and culminating in the northern [[Mediterranean Sea]]. By virtue of this fresh strategy, [[Beijing]] seeks to gain greater access to the strategic pathways of the [[Indian Ocean]], alleviated access to [[Persian Gulf]] oil — which consequently shall reduce its dependence on the passage through the [[Straits of Malacca]] — a key potential vulnerability for China in the event of a future conflict.<ref>http://www.sunday-guardian.com/analysis/china-eyes-18-overseas-naval-bases</ref> |