China signs 71 shipping agreements, controls 18 military-capable ports

China has signed 71 bilateral shipping agreements with 66 countries worldwide, according to a recent report by Rerum Novarum. The report includes a map detailing all 119 Chinese overseas ports, categorized by ownership stakes and military capabilities.

Ports are color-coded on the map: yellow indicates ports where China does not hold a majority stake (less than 50%), red marks those where China has a majority stake (over 50%), and blue highlights ports capable of accommodating Chinese military vessels. For a port to dock a Chinese military vessel without prior agreement, Beijing requires a controlling stake. The minimum draft for a port to anchor a military vessel is typically 16 meters, which accommodates oil tankers and exceeds the requirements for aircraft carriers and other naval vessels.

Currently, China has 18 ports that can hold military vessels, marked in blue on the map. However, this number is expected to increase as China plans to establish military facilities at several ports currently marked in yellow, including Gwadar in Pakistan, Chongjin in North Korea, and Posorja in Ecuador.

Notably, China has invested in only one port in Russia, the Port of Zarubino. It is unlikely that China will receive clearance to dock military vessels at Newcastle Port in Australia, despite holding a 51% stake, as it is marked in blue due to its capacity. Additionally, while China has never docked a military vessel at Haifa, Israel, the port is also marked in blue due to its historical use by Russian military vessels.

In total, China has 129 overseas ports, although 10 are inactive and not represented on the map.