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The international ship registration system is an important component of shipping policy. A review of its historical development in China reveals that its implementation has yet to achieve the intended outcomes. The construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port presents a valuable opportunity to advance the development of this system. Based on the Theory of Change Model, this study assesses the current state of China's international ship registration system within the context of the Hainan Free Trade Port. We also employ research methods such as SWOT analysis and comparative analysis to objectively assess the implementation of this innovative policy from both macro and micro perspectives, as well as from qualitative and quantitative angles. Our analysis identifies a range of persistent challenges, including imperfect supporting policies and insufficient regulatory oversight. In response, we propose a series of reform measures spanning legislative, judicial, and law enforcement dimensions. These include restructuring the taxation system for shipping enterprises, enhancing the regulatory framework for ship registration, and developing a robust system of ancillary services. Collectively, these reforms are essential for comprehensively strengthening the maritime soft power of China's shipping industry.

A new port facility in Hainan could serve as a base for China's 'maritime militias' in the disputed South China Sea.

A new port facility in Hainan could serve as a base for China's 'maritime militias' in the disputed South China Sea.

China has deployed a network of sensors and communications capabilities between Hainan Island and the Paracel Islands in the northern South China Sea. These capabilities are part of a "Blue Ocean Information Network" (蓝海信息网络) developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), a state-owned company, to aid in the exploration and control of the maritime environment using information technology. The network constructed in the northern South China Sea between early 2016 and 2019 is referred to as a demonstration system. However, future plans for the Blue Ocean Information Network involve expanding the sensor and communications network to the rest of the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and other ocean areas far from Chinese territory. While the Blue Ocean Information Network is largely cast as an environmental monitoring and communications system, the military utility of its sensing and communications functions makes its development important to monitor.

The 21st-century Maritime Silk Road initiative by the Chinese government has garnered growing global attention. As pivotal facilitators of international trade, the maritime routes and ports along this route are attracting the interest of various stakeholders. There is a pressing need for extensive research to augment the existing theoretical frameworks. This paper introduces a Self-Organizing Map (SOM) neural network-based methodology for port function clustering, applied to 24 major ports spanning from the South China Sea to the ASEAN region in 2023. The clustering outcomes are cross-validated against port rankings derived from Principal Component Analysis. The study reveals several key insights: (1) Singapore Port, Hong Kong Port, Shenzhen Port, and Guangzhou Port emerge as the principal shipping hubs within the region; (2) The relationship between China and Singapore is identified as a linchpin for the sustainable development of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road; (3) Guangdong Province is highlighted as a central economic and logistical node. Finally, the recommendations for the accelerated development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and Fujian Coastal Port is concluded.

"Board and search" sea rules likely had Beijing's sign-off: official.

25 missing after ship capsizes off China; 2 safe.