Provenance
This standalone page was migrated from the February 2026 compendium corpus.
Malacca Strait
The most important geographic chokepoint in this framework. Transits approximately 23.7 million barrels of oil per day — more than the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 77-80% of China’s oil imports and 60% of its total trade value pass through this corridor. A total blockade would cause an estimated 7-10% GDP contraction for China in the first year. [VERIFIED]
Strait of Hormuz / Gulf of Oman Corridor
Discussed as an energy chokepoint that can amplify conflict into oil-price shocks. Transits approximately 20.9 million barrels per day. The channel links this route to China-Iran and wider supply security questions.
Gwadar Port
A Chinese-administered strategic node in Pakistan in the channel’s narrative. Independent assessment: the port is operational but underutilized, handling transshipment and local bulk cargo. The proposed Gwadar-Kashgar oil pipeline does not exist. Zero oil currently flows from Gwadar to China via pipeline. [FALSE as energy bypass]
Polar Silk Road / Arctic Corridor
Presented as a route with major time-and-cost benefits versus legacy shipping paths. The framework treats Arctic route development as a structural trade and energy shift, not a novelty. It also ties into Russia-China territorial/resource dynamics.
Poland Rail Corridor (China-Europe Freight)
Used as an example of how regional military/security events can rapidly disrupt major freight economics. In the series, Poland route disruption raises cost/time for China-Europe trade. This illustrates security factor spillover into logistics pricing.
Panama Canal (and drought constraints)
Referenced as a practical logistics bottleneck where physical constraints affect global flow reliability. In the framework, Panama is one of several non-ideological constraints that force strategic rerouting. The February 2026 seizure of CK Hutchison-operated ports at Balboa and Cristobal demonstrates the geopolitical overlay on this chokepoint.
Taiwan Strait Proximity Risk
Even when not named as a shipping lane, Taiwan geography is treated as critical strategic exposure for semiconductors. The channel’s argument is that concentration near a conflict-prone area is an unacceptable single-point-of-failure.
Quebec Hydro and North American Energy Links
Used as an example that electricity and pipeline interdependence can become immediate policy leverage. In Five-Factor terms, local energy chokepoints matter as much as global ones.