The situation in the Red Sea, which has developed from last year to this year, has been escalating and the conflict has become increasingly intense. Some people say that the United States has lost face this time, but I think that this is not enough. In the first war in the Red Sea, the United States lost face or second, and the most crucial thing was that the United States completely lost its hegemonism and the sea power on which it depended.
There is a saying in the theory of sea power, "Whoever controls the sea controls the world." Therefore, the United States has relied on the world's largest maritime military strength to be the "world hegemon" for decades, but unexpectedly, today it has planted a big heel in the Red Sea and in the armed forces of the Middle East.
Let's start with one thing, a few days ago, the Houthi Politburo issued a statement that "in addition to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel, merchant ships of other countries, including China and Russia, will not be threatened when sailing in the Red Sea, and the Houthis will ensure the safe passage of merchant ships from all countries."
The Houthis named the United States, Britain and Israel, saying that the merchant ships of these three countries should not even step into the Red Sea, and at the same time named China and Russia, emphasizing that Chinese and Russian merchant ships can safely cross the Red Sea. The Houthi statement highlights a distinction in treatment.
Why do the Houthis dare to be so tough, because people in the Red Sea can have the final say. After a round of large-scale air strikes by the United States, the Houthis are in the Red Sea, and they do not seem to have any intention of compromising on merchant ships, and they have a tough attitude towards the United States, saying that they will confront the United States to the end in the Red Sea.
The situation in the Red Sea has developed to this point, and the situation is very delicate. Logically speaking, the United States generally has the final say on maritime affairs, and even if the United States does not say it, it will put pressure on the countries surrounding the maritime area to force these countries to listen to the United States.
But now, the situation has reversed, and the United States is being targeted at sea. The American merchant ships are too scared, and the American army is powerless. Have you seen this meeting in the past, anyway, it's the first time I've seen it. What does this illustrate, the United States has completely lost its sea power. If you can lose the Red Sea today, you can lose the Mediterranean Sea tomorrow, and in the future, it will not be the turn of the United States to speak.
This is where the biggest blow to the United States is, and disgrace is only secondary. And then let's go back to the beginning, "whoever controls the ocean controls the world", this sentence is right, that is certainly true, but the key is in the word "control", the focus is on how to control the ocean.
The US method is very simple and rude, crushing with military strength, using the most advanced aircraft carrier battle group, and using thunderous means to suppress any country that is not convinced. Obviously, the United States is a stupid method. As for the explanation of mastering sea power, I have seen a very accurate statement, saying that the first step in mastering sea power is to support a country with strong land power on the mainland that is close to it, as its "little brother" and helper.
The best example of this is the United Kingdom of the past, which called itself the "empire on which the sun never sets". At that time, Britain supported Prussia to fight against France and grasped the sea power in Europe, and planned to support Japan in Asia to suppress the Qing Dynasty at that time and control the sea power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Obviously, only if there is a powerful own force on the surrounding continent can further grasp the sea power in the region, this is the best policy. The United States uses military strength to exert strong pressure, but it cannot even be regarded as a downward strategy, but can only be called a downward strategy.
Having said all that, let's take a look at how our country does it, China's friends on the coastal transportation arteries, after many years of operation, it is not ordinary. In the Strait of Hormuz, we have Iran, and in the Red Sea, the Houthis are also courting us.
Including the Gulf countries in the Middle East and the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia, we have a lot of friends, although the size is not large, we can win in the geographical advantage of the unique, and it is also reliable. It can be said that at present, except for the area near India, we have the support of friendly countries from the Asia-Pacific region all the way to Europe.
This method is much more clever than that of the United States. However, China's purpose is not to pursue hegemony, but for the Belt and Road Initiative, for the globalized economy, and for multipolar development. Now that the situation in the Middle East is in chaos, China has ushered in the best window opportunity, and the future Sino-US game pattern is bound to be exchanged for offense and defense, and everyone can wait and see.