ASSESSMENTS
China May Set Its Navy on Course for the Persian Gulf
Aug 9, 2019 | 09:00 GMT
![Ships carrying Chinese military personnel depart Zhanjiang, in south China's Guangdong province, on July 11, 2017, bound for a support base in Djibouti.](https://worldview.stratfor.com/sites/default/files/styles/2x1_full/public/china-navy-sentinel-display-gettyimages-812665974.jpg?itok=KDweRAxE)
Ships carrying Chinese military personnel depart Zhanjiang, in south China's Guangdong province, on July 11, 2017, bound for a support base in Djibouti.
(Xinhua/Wu Dengfeng via Getty Images)
Highlights
- China has long wanted to extend its maritime reach and has major strategic interests in energy supplies that transit the Persian Gulf.
- The U.S. call for nations to join Operation Sentinel, which would see naval escorts for commercial shipping, gives China an opportunity to do both — but Washington might not welcome Chinese participation, and China itself has reservations.
- If tensions continue to escalate in the Persian Gulf, however, Beijing may find it has no choice but to have a security presence in the Middle East.
Proceed to sign up
Register NowAlready have an account?
Sign In