China News Service, March 31. Comprehensive report. One week after the Suez Canal was stuck in the global trade throat, the great ship "Longci" finally got out of trouble on the 29th. The canal gradually resumed navigation, but it will take several days to clear the backlog of hundreds of cargo ships. .

　　The 2021 edition of the "Suez Canal Crisis" not only makes countries aware of the fragility of global supply chains, but also makes the anti-risk capabilities of maritime traffic routes such as the Suez Canal, the Panama Canal, and the Strait of Malacca become the focus of international attention.

On March 29, local time, the heavy cargo ship stranded in the Suez Canal has been out of trouble, and the canal traffic will gradually resume.

Satellite pictures show a heavy cargo ship fully floating.

"If a boat is blocking the road, don't drive away"

　　No one would have thought that a giant freighter ran aground on the canal, which not only "blocked" the path of more than 300 ships, but also had a huge impact on the global cargo supply chain.

　　Hong Kong’s "Ta Kung Pao" pointed out that compared with the detour to the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, the Suez Canal route greatly shortens the voyage from the European Atlantic coast to the Indian Ocean and the voyage from Mediterranean countries to the Indian Ocean, which is of strategic significance.

　　With the deepening of globalization, the Suez Canal has become the throat of Asia-Europe and even the world's trade.

But the stranded accident of the huge ship made the world aware of its fragility.

According to Bloomberg's analysis, once a maritime throat such as the Suez Canal is blocked or blocked, it will cause economic paralysis.

Data map: US military aircraft carrier.

The U.S. military says there are plans to respond

　　The USS "Eisenhower" aircraft carrier battle group is currently conducting exercises in the Mediterranean. As usual, after the exercise, the battle group will pass through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea and enter the Middle East.

Previously, British media analyzed that the "Eisenhower" was forced to stay in the Mediterranean due to the jam.

　　The US Naval Association News Network stated that the "Eisenhower" will indeed enter the Middle East through the Suez Canal in the near future, but did not give a clear time.

　　On the 29th, a Pentagon spokesperson emphasized that the U.S. military is very aware of the importance of the maritime throat, and has considered the possibility of blockage of the Suez Canal in advance, and has ensured that there are alternatives.

However, he refused to disclose details and also refused to comment on the specific impact of the blockage accident on the US military.

　　Hutchinson, general manager of ARX Mouldings, a British maritime safety consulting company, pointed out that during the blockage of the Suez Canal, hundreds of ships were crowded nearby and immobile, becoming live targets for pirates and terrorist organizations.

He said that for merchant ships carrying high-value cargo, standing still is very dangerous.

Data map: Panama Canal.

Are there risks to the global shipping throat?

　　Through this blockage, the Panama Canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Strait of Malacca that connects the Pacific and Indian Oceans have also received global scrutiny.

　　The Panama Canal is an important trade channel between Asia and the United States. However, due to its narrow watercourse, even after many expansions, congestion often occurs.

To make matters worse, due to climate change, the Panama Canal is experiencing a water shortage crisis, which also affects the normal passage of ships.

　　The Strait of Malacca is the sea lifeline of East Asian countries and is vital to energy transportation.

However, Malacca’s shallow water roads are narrow, collisions and groundings of giant oil tankers are not uncommon, and they are often harassed by pirates.

　　Although the Suez Canal has resumed traffic, the incident exposed serious hidden dangers in global trade and transportation, and it also brought more warnings and thinking. The global trade and transportation channels need to be improved to minimize risk factors in all aspects.