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The debacle over the grounded container ship in the Suez Canal has once again shown Beijing how risky it is to become too dependent on a transport route with a bottleneck. For China, that is even more so the 900-kilometer-long Strait of Malacca near Singapore, which measures only 2.7 kilometers at its narrowest point. Most of China's raw materials have to pass through this strait. That is why China has been trying for years to build alternative supply routes as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. These are mainly pipelines.
By Frank Sieren
In this series, China.Table analyses China's relations with the EU member states: On the sea route from Asia to Europe, the Greek city of Piraeus is the next European port after the Suez Canal. As China's most important gateway to Europe, it will continue to grow in importance. Beijing is investing billions. Athens is now making a correspondingly confident appearance in Brussels – also to the displeasure of the Americans.
By Frank Sieren
After calls for boycotts against foreign companies in China, the first affected textile producers are buckling. Among others, the Japanese company Muji distances itself from the suspicion of forced labour on the cotton fields in Xinjiang, in order not to endanger its business in the People's Republic. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is increasing the pressure on the companies.
By Marcel Grzanna