Spatial pattern of global submarine cable network and identification of strategic pivot and strategic channel

As a kind of large-scale connectivity infrastructure,submarine cables play a vital role in international telecommunication,socio-economic development and national defense security.However,the current understanding about the spatial pattern of global submarine cable network is relatively limited.In this article,we analyze the spatial distribution and connectivity pattern of global submarine cables,and identify their strategic pivots and strategic channels.The main conclusions are as follows:(1)The spatial distribution of global submarine cables is significantly unbalanced,which is characterized by the facts that the distribution of submarine cable lines is similar to that of sea lanes,and the agglomerations of landing stations are distributed unevenly along the coastline.(2)The connectivity pattern of global submarine cable network has a significant scale effect.At the micro,meso and macro scales,the connectivity structure presents chain model,cluster model and hub-and-spoke model,respectively.(3)The distribution of strategic pivots and strategic channels shows a pyramidal hierarchical feature.Singapore ranks highest among all the strategic pivots,while the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca rank highest among the strategic channels.Based on the identification of strategic pivots and channels,six strategic regions have been divided,which face various network security risks and need special attention and vigilance.

The identification of global strategic shipping pivots and their spatial patterns

In concert with developments in global trade and energy resource transportation, there has been a marked increase in reliance on overseas shipping. Unimpeded marine transportation has therefore become a key issue which influences national maritime interests including the security of trade and energy resources. A strategic shipping pivot thus performs a vital controlling function for global shipping networks. In this study strategic shipping pivots are defined and subdivided into sea hubs, channels and areas. We then develop a model to identify strategic shipping pivots on a global scale. The results show that, depending on differences in location, function, and type, the concept of strategic shipping pivot permits the identification of both spatial and structural differentiation with respect to strategic hubs, corridors, and seas. Now 44 strategic hubs have formed across the globe. These hubs have become the control centers of local shipping network organization. At the same time, seven strategic corridors containing most shipping routes and transportation capacity connect important sea areas, and permit a high-degree of control over the transport of strategic materials. The strategic seas, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific provide vital import and export pathways, so that the formation of strategic shipping pivots is mainly influenced by factors such as physical geographical conditions, the spatial distribution of socio-economic activities, business organization, technical progress, geopolitical patterns and geopolitical disputes. Physical geographical conditions provide the potential foundations for strategic shipping pivots, while the spatial distribution of socio-economic activities and communications determine the strategic value of these points. Finally, business organization, technical progress, and geopolitical disputes all function to strengthen the strategic mechanisms and the mutagenicity of strategic shipping pivots.