Darwin is a tropical port city in
Australia's Northern Territory. We
visited Darwin last winter on a trip
to that part of the world. Most of
Australia's natural resource exports
such as oil, gas and gold ship from
there. 75% of Australia's exports now
go to China. In 2015, China signed
a 99-year lease to control the port. Not
too many Americans are aware of this.

Silk Road All Over Again

The Port of Darwin is just one of dozens of ports Chinese
companies control in over 30 countries. They also control
ports in Oman, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
and Cambodia. It's part of their $1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative
– an enormous network of land and sea routes connecting China
to Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Why does this matter? If you control the trade routes, you control the trade. When these projects are done in 2025, China's system of ports, railroads, pipelines and factories will cover more than 60 countries and touch 25% of all goods and services sent around the world.

In addition, China has built seven man-made islands in the South China Sea. They have installed air and naval bases on them. This aggressive move by China is getting a lot of countries riled up.

Americans know all the salacious details of our politicians and movie stars but not nearly as much on important global affairs like this.

Darwin is a tropical port city in
Australia's Northern Territory. We
visited Darwin last winter on a trip
to that part of the world. Most of
Australia's natural resource exports such
as oil, gas and gold ship from there. 75% of
Australia's exports now go to China. In 2015,
China signed a 99-year lease to control the
port. Not too many Americans are aware of this.

Silk Road All Over Again

The Port of Darwin is just one of dozens of ports Chinese companies
control in over 30 countries. They also control ports in Oman, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Cambodia. It's part of their $1 trillion Belt
and Road Initiative – an enormous network of land and sea routes connecting
China to Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Why does this matter? If you control the trade routes, you control the trade. When these projects are done in 2025, China's system of ports, railroads, pipelines and factories will cover more than 60 countries and touch 25% of all goods and services sent around the world.

In addition, China has built seven man-made islands in the South China Sea. They have installed air and naval bases on them. This aggressive move by China is getting a lot of countries riled up.

Americans know all the salacious details of our politicians and movie stars but not nearly as much on important global affairs like this.