Dr. Hasan Yaser Malik / Dr. Deanna Anderlini
Apart from Pacific, Indian and North Oceans, China is enhancing its influence in Atlantic Ocean as well by extending the Island Chain Strategy as a naval restraint disposition envisioned by John Foster in 1951, during the Korean War. It planned surrounding China and Russia by establishing the U.S naval bases in the Western Pacific to restrict sea access. Presently it is emerging as a focus for Beijing and Washington’s geopolitical ascendancy. For U.S, this strategy continues as substantial tool of projection in Far East. For China, the concept is integral to its maritime security and to expand its influence.
U.S established three island chains in Pacific Ocean; Subsequently Center for Strategic and International Studies has proposed two additional island chain to assess Chinese Indo-Pacific naval approach. These proposed Island Chains are located in the Indian Ocean.
It is envisioned that due to ever growing strategic competition, Beijing is likely to out play Washington by establishing a Sixth Island Chain in North Atlantic from at Azores archipelago to Trinidad islands stretching over 4500 km to strategically fix military power of an already ocean trapped America. Azores archipelago with its nine Islands stretches over 1500 km as an autonomous Portuguese region in mid-Atlantic located only 2,222 miles east of New York and 900 miles west of Lisbon, hence linking Americas to Europe and Africa for fiscal, armed, and geo-political gains. U.S has long maintained Lajes air field on the Azores Island since WWII which continued even during Cold War, Beijing articulated its presence in the Azores as Washington cut down 35 million USD in funding and troops reduction to 177 from 1110 at Lajes base. Initial sign of Beijing attention was witnessed during 2014 once President Xi Jinping visited the islands on way back from South America.
Lisbon is also welcoming engagement with Beijing even against the wishes of US lead NATO. A Chinese foothold will allow Beijing to leverage the islands for immediate diplo-economic gain by utilising logistics centers and fostering lucrative business ventures in Caribbean under its pragmatic Belt Road Initiative. Better Chinese access in North Atlantic will not only augment its influence to exploit regional politico-military interests but will also decrease the US leverage in South China Sea. Beijing is eager to expand its export markets and to find new sources of energy to fuel its growing economy, moreover Portugal is one of the first nations among West European nation to be part of Belt Road Initiative (BRI). Chinese enterprises have capitalised 5.6 billion euros since 2011, which makes Portugal as the fifth-highest invested nation in EU by China. Chinese Three Gorges Corporation has acquired 22 per cent shares of Energy de Portugal. Huawei has been investing into Portuguese markets since 2018 for partnerships in the development of 5G and fiber-optic technologies. More Portugal relies on Chinese investments, the more leverage Beijing can exercise in Atlantic including Africa and ME.
Reduction of U.S. troops from Lajes due to budget has created a strategic vacuum which China is eager to fill.
Portuguese “Golden Visa” initiative which allows residency to by purchasing property worth more than 500,000 euros will provides a legal option for Chinese to exert a greater regional influence. Beijing’s investments will aid Portugal to surmount 30 per cent of its fiscal suffering caused due to decrease of U.S troops from Lajes. U.S is resisting to establishment of Chinese logistics and research centers close to U.S. military base in the Azores, however Beijing’s support to Portugal to overcome its debt crisis during 2008 has led to a covenant to develop microsatellites. U.S NATO allies also endure to condemn Beijing’s disposition in the strategic Azores; which will allow Beijing dual-use of aircraft and shipping vessels. Azores ultimately is likely to emerge as another base including Gwadar and Djibouti.
Chinese engagement with Latin America has increased since new millennium as Chinese enterprises are capitalising in infrastructure, space, ports, shipping and industries even more than U.S. Washington is apprehensive that Beijing is doing this to pursue its maritime interests in Atlantic with a view to response against U.S provocations it in South China Sea. For more than half a century, Trinidad and Tobago has been a center of Chinese interests in the Caribbean. Chinese investments in Trinidad include $500 million Chinese-built dry dock. In 2011, China invested USD 850 million to acquire a 10 per cent shares in Atlantic LNG. COSCO has expanded its service like in Azores islands. Huawei and ZTE have also established a strong position market. In the defense and security sector, Trinidad was the first in Western Hemisphere to purchase a Chinese-made naval vessels. It is estimated that by 2035, Chinese market share in Latin American and Caribbean will be 700 billion USD. As per 2015 Defense Strategy White Paper, Beijing is trying to strengthen its military ties with Trinidad. Nevertheless, Washington’s concerns are enhancing over growing Chinese influence in Latin America as Washington has shifted its focus to Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions. Washington is imposing sanctions on some Latin American nations to maintain its dominance however is failing against Beijing with time at its end to establish 4500 km long Sixth Island Chain from Azores to Trinidad to fix ocean trapped U.S.
Author Dr. Hasan Yaser Malik, Charted Institute of Logistics and Transportation, UK and Co author Dr. Deanna Anderlini, Bologna University, Italy.