Major Eco Powers

Question 1

1. Name the three countries that account for over 90% of the world’s shipbuilding.

Answer 1

1. China, South Korea, Japan

Question 2

2. What is the name of the French global shipping company among the world’s largest?

Answer 2

2. CMA-CGM

Question 3

3. Which country operates the largest distant-water fishing fleet in the world?

Answer 3

3. China

Question 4

4. What percentage of global trade (by volume) is carried out by sea?

Answer 4

4. Around 80%

Question 5

5. Identify two key port cities in Asia that dominate container shipping.

Answer 5

5. Shanghai and Singapore

Question 6

6. Explain how major economic powers dominate maritime trade flows. Include specific trade routes and port examples.

Answer 6

6. Maritime trade flows are dominated by wealthy countries because they control the largest ports (like Shanghai, Rotterdam, Singapore), and the most important routes—mainly connecting East Asia, Europe, and the USA. These countries own powerful shipping firms and have the infrastructure to manage high trade volumes.

Question 7

7. How do fishing subsidies contribute to maritime domination by rich countries? Use the example of China.

Answer 7

7. Fishing subsidies allow countries like China to support their distant-water fleets. China provides nearly 50% of global fishing subsidies, helping to operate 17,000 distant-water vessels even in waters far from its coast, such as off West Africa. This financial support makes China a dominant fishing force.

Question 8

8. Describe how China has asserted maritime influence in the South China Sea. Mention at least two strategies or actions.

Answer 8

8. China’s maritime influence in the South China Sea involves building artificial islands (e.g., in the Spratly Islands) and militarizing them with runways and radar. China also patrols disputed waters aggressively and rejects international rulings that invalidate its “nine-dash line” claims.

Question 9

9. Explain the link between economic power and naval strength. Why do the strongest economies also have the strongest navies?

Answer 9

9. Economic power provides resources to fund massive navies. For example, the USA and China, the world’s two largest economies, also have the largest navies. Naval power protects trade routes, deters rivals, and projects influence globally.

Question 10

10. How does illegal fishing by major powers create geopolitical tension? Provide examples from both China and EU states.

Answer 10

10. Illegal fishing creates tension by violating other countries’ EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones). Chinese vessels have been accused of depleting fish stocks off West Africa, while European fleets (e.g., from Spain or France) have been accused of illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean, harming local fisheries.

Question 11

11. Why do major economic powers seek control over maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz or the South China Sea? What are the economic and strategic benefits?

Answer 11

11. Chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz or South China Sea are essential for oil and global trade. Controlling or influencing these routes allows countries to protect energy flows and apply pressure in international disputes. Over 30% of sea-traded oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Question 12

12. Compare the role of France and the United States in maritime security operations. What do their actions tell us about the relationship between commerce and military power?

Answer 12

12. France and the USA both conduct naval patrols and anti-piracy missions. France has overseas naval bases, while the US ensures freedom of navigation in contested areas like the South China Sea. Both use military presence to protect commercial interests and allies.

Question 13

13. How do cooperation efforts (like anti-piracy missions) benefit powerful countries as well as smaller nations? Use examples from the Indian Ocean.

Answer 13

13. Cooperation helps everyone: countries like India assist Mauritius in patrolling its EEZ. Multinational patrols in the Gulf of Aden protect food shipments and merchant vessels. These missions improve regional security and prevent piracy, benefiting trade stability.

Question 14

14. In what ways does the domination of the seas by rich countries disadvantage developing countries economically and politically?

Answer 14

14. Developing countries struggle because they lack subsidies, large fleets, or advanced ports. This limits their access to maritime resources and reduces their influence in international trade, reinforcing global inequalities.

Question 15

15. Can military presence at sea be used to indirectly control trade flows? Justify your answer with real-world examples.

Answer 15

15. Yes, military presence can affect trade flows indirectly. For example, China’s control over the South China Sea creates uncertainty for rival claimants and allows China to assert influence over energy routes. Similarly, tensions in the Red Sea or Strait of Hormuz can shift trade paths due to security risks.