The research agenda will also focus on safeguarding port access and critical mineral investments amid rising threats to global trade
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenCarol Yangin BeijingPublished: 8:30pm, 28 Apr 2026China is stepping up efforts to secure critical sea lanes and protect its overseas assets, as crises at maritime chokepoints – including the Strait of Hormuz – expose growing vulnerabilities in global trade.
The urgency of such efforts has intensified since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, which has effectively shut down the strait – a vital artery that handles about 20 per cent of global oil and gas flows.
In the maritime and energy sectors, shipping giant Cosco will work with Shanghai Jiao Tong University to analyse the effects of international maritime chokepoints on China’s supply chains. The PetroChina Planning and Engineering Institute, together with Tsinghua University, will also lead a study on the role of state-owned enterprises in safeguarding national energy security amid a shifting global landscape.
