Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.6, 2015

The Security Model and Legal Guarantee of Chinese Maritime Shipping—Exemplified by the Response to Pirates along the Maritime Silk Road in the 21st Century

(Abstract)

Li Weihai

The building of “One Belt, One Road” is an important strategy for the fulfillment of the great revival of the Chinese nation. Maritime security has a significant place in this strategy. In recent years, there have been frequent violent terrorist incidents at sea, including piracy, armed robbery and terrorist attacks, posing a dire threat to both international and Chinese maritime transport interests and seriously challenging the fulfillment of the “Maritime Silk Road” strategy. Five direct measures can be taken to protect ocean shipments from violence at sea. One example is the defensive measures taken against the Somali pirates. The employment of armed guards from professional security companies on board ship is an effective model for guaranteeing maritime security; it not only meets the standards of international law but is legally permitted in many developed countries and regions, and is thus strategically significant in ensuring overall Chinese maritime security. In the Chinese context, this model faces its own legal risks. We should embrace the new approach to national security law, strengthen legal guarantees and make concerted efforts to provide escorts of military vessels (planes) to jointly build an optimum model of Chinese maritime safety, in order to guarantee the realization of core Chinese maritime interests.