Excited Delirium Book: Chapter 13 (China News – Actions in Strait of Hormuz)
Author’s Note: The following is Chapter 13 of the my online book “Excited Delirium”. Please post comments. Please tell your friends about this story. If you’ve missed a chapter, please click here for Chapter 1 (Prelude) or here for the full index.
HEADLINE: SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
DATE: April 28, 2008
SOURCE: International News Corporation
The Strait of Hormuz, not a common geographical term in most American households, is getting a lot of attention these days. And not because Americans are taking the lead with friendly business ventures.
Recently, the Government of China, mainly through its domestic and foreign investment arm, commonly referred to as the China Investment Corporation, has been actively buying port offices around the Strait of Hormuz. Several analysts have speculated that the intent might be to monopolize the economic activities in the area.
But what’s so important about this Strait in particular? It’s just a 21 kilometre gap between the Arabian Peninsula and the south coast of Iran. Yes, the same Iran that has nuclear weapons and is threatening to use them against our allies.
That would constitute cause for fear number one.
Cause for fear number two: about 20% of the world’s oil is shipped through this location. Doesn’t sound like much? How about more than $1 billion in value per day. Still don’t have your attention? Well then, how about half a trillion dollars per year?
That’s right: a significant portion of the world’s economic value sails right by one of most reviled enemies.
If you’re not a numbers person, imagine this scenario: so much oil gets controlled by the Chinese or others that you have to walk to work once a day. Imagine no cars on the road every Tuesday or Friday. Not a pretty sight.
To make matters worse, with the Government of China controlling strategic positions along the Strait of Hormuz, they could effectively control the price and flow of oil that the rest of the world pays and gets.
Analysts have indicated that this is nothing to be concerned about, as the economic security lies with a partner that is favourable to the US, and feels this is a better alternative to having the Strait controlled by unfriendly nations such as Iran.
However, many US officials have quietly suggested that these activities must be monitored with the utmost importance because any threat to global oil supply – real or perceived – could bring about military consequences.
They also indicate that even though China is an ally to the United States, we have to remain vigilant and ensure that even this colossus doesn’t interfere with our national interests.
I mean, who really wants to have to walk to work one day a week?
The International News Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OMNINet Media Ventures.
(Note: “Excited Delirium” is a work of fiction. Any person, place or thing depicted in this work of fiction is also a work of fiction. Any relation of these subjects or characters to real locations, people or things are an unintentional coincidence.)
Did you miss a chapter? If so, click here to see all chapters or click here to go to Excited Delirium: Chapter 1 (Prelude)
Excited Delirium by Liam Young is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.
Based on a work at www.exciteddelirium.ca.
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