THE ROLE OF THE MALACCA STRAIT IN THE ONE BELT, ONE ROAD INITIATIVE Ventura Jariod, Elisenda (I)*, F.X. Martínez de Osés (I) (I) Department of Nautical Science and Engineering. Barcelona School of Nautical Studies. Technical University of Catalonia - BarcelonaTech, Pla de Palau, 18, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia (SPAIN). *Corresponding author: elisenda.vj@gmail.com Abstract: The Strait of Malacca is a commercial step of utmost importance, where 60% of international maritime trade passes; it is crucial for global commerce but its geographic position makes it a dangerous chokepoint. In 2013 China unveiled its project of the One Belt, One Road Initiative (OBOR). This project is in part aimed to consolidate the Chinese strategic position in Southeast Asia, promoting alternative routes to secure the traffic of energy resources while reducing the Chinese dependence on the Strait of Malacca. The main objective of this paper is to examine the geopolitical and economic impact of the OBOR Initiative in South East Asian Nation economies through an appraisal of the traffic in the Malacca Strait as well as highlight and justify why the One Belt, One Road Initiative is so crucial for the region. Even when China is actively seeking to reduce its dependence on the Strait, the calculations carried on this study show the Malacca Strait as the best route compared to its feasible alternatives. Keywords: Malacca Strait; chokepoint; energy security; alternative routes. INTRODUCTION Nowadays, over 90 percent of the world’s trade is carried by sea. Maritime industry is an important economic sector as it has a direct impact on the prosperity of a region, providing a source of income and employment for many developing countries 1 . The Southeast Asian region has played an important role in the development of global maritime economy and, at the same time, the sea has also played a pivotal role in the Southeast Asia’s economic and political development. Since the early days, the strategic position of Southeast Asia region favoured the boosting of its maritime trade as it is home to several international shipping lanes that straddle the territorial waters of numerous States. The Malacca Straits was then already a critical trade route linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. Now, it is a commercial step of great importance and one of the main oil transportation routes 2 . Among all the strategic routes that offer