The situation among China, the US, and Russia is now clear! Will the United States dare to control the Strait of Malacca? China has no room to retreat; this is a matter of global lifelines, not private property!

The geopolitical game between China, the US, and Russia has entered a critical moment. All eyes are now on the Strait of Malacca—the waterway that carries the lifeblood of the global economy, becoming the ultimate test of American hegemony! Once the US dares to impose substantial control or interception, it will be a deadly provocation to China’s energy security. China has no room to retreat and will respond forcefully!
The Strait of Malacca is far from an ordinary waterway. It stretches about 1,080 kilometers, with its narrowest point only 5.4 kilometers wide, yet it carries 40% of global maritime trade and 30% of oil transportation. Over 200 ships pass through daily, with an average of one large vessel every five minutes. For China, this is even more of a “lifeline”: 70% of its crude oil imports and over 80% of energy imports rely on this channel. About 8 million barrels of crude oil pass through daily, exposing more than half of the country’s energy security to external risks.
The US has a history of controlling strategic waterways. The Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for nearly 40% of global oil transportation, is one of 16 choke points the US aims to control, with the Fifth Fleet and aircraft carriers stationed there year-round. During the tense US-Iran standoff, the US military directly fired warning shots, and whenever Iran mentioned blocking the strait, international oil prices would fluctuate violently. Analyses estimate that a 30-day blockade could push oil prices to $300–$500 per barrel, causing the US itself to suffer losses of hundreds of billions of dollars.
Now, the US is very likely to replicate the control model used in the Strait of Hormuz in the Strait of Malacca. If successful, China’s industrial system will be directly impacted: shortages of raw materials for refineries, cars without fuel, factories shutting down. The China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline transports only 22 million tons of oil annually, far insufficient to replace the volume of transportation through Malacca, and cannot bear the burden of substitution.
More critically, this is not just a bilateral game between China and the US but a blatant challenge to the global order. Japan and South Korea’s energy imports, as well as Southeast Asian countries’ trade, are highly dependent on this “maritime crossroads.” With 90% of global trade relying on sea transport, any disruption in the Strait of Malacca would cause a comprehensive chaos in supply chains. US agricultural exports and manufacturing parts transportation would also be hindered. Chinese ships account for 60% of the traffic through the strait, directly impacting ports and shipping industries in Singapore and neighboring countries. US control and interception would be tantamount to cutting off its own financial lifeline.
The Strait of Malacca is currently jointly managed by Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia—an asset shared by all humanity, not a hegemonic tool that any single country can privatize. The situation among China, the US, and Russia is already clear. If the US dares to cross the red line, China will respond strongly, and it will trigger a collective resistance from countries worldwide that depend on this vital lifeline. This waterway, crucial to global survival, is never something that anyone can control at will. Any hegemonic gamble will ultimately backfire!