Analyzing Interactions between Japanese Ports and the Maritime Silk Road Based on Complex Networks

Abstract

This article considers how the Japanese ports interact with the ports of China and along the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) while they are embedded in the global port network, especially in the context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. At a port level, it primarily uses connectivity analysis to analyze the port relations and significances in the maritime network. In contrast, at the network level, it applies the methods from network sciences to analyze the significances of these maritime networks and the interactions among the maritime networks of Japan, China, and MSR. This article extracts a large-scale maritime network from ports and vessels’ profiles and data of vessels’ Automatic Identification System (AIS). It then examines the relations among the networks (including Japan, China, MSR, and global ports) after defining the maritime networks, network generation schemes, and port network analysis tools. Based on the analysis results and findings, this study draws some implications for regional ports and shipping development and the global supply network.

Analyzing the international connectivity of the major container ports in Northeast Asia

“…However, ports in Japan and Taiwan can improve connectivity through several policies. Some previous studies show that developing the international and domestic maritime shipping network of seaports in Taiwan and Japan plays an essential role in the national and local economies because these countries are pivotal points for shipping routes crossing the Pacific Ocean (Ding et al, 2019;Hu et al, 2020). Therefore, port operators and managers of these countries may implement the following strategies to enhance connectivity as well as the competitiveness.…”

Strategic locations for logistics distribution centers along the Belt and Road: Explorative analysis and research agenda

“…15. Lee et al (2018a) and Hu et al (2020a) developed three modules as a two-level framework. First, the Shipping Earth data system collects the data on ports, vessels, and vessel tracking data.…”

“…In the context of LDCs, this paper considers the B&R, and intermodal transportation networks that interact with the maritime networks. As indicated in the framework, using these data-driven networks, we can investigate global supply chains (Hu et al, 2020a;Hu, 2020), short-sea shipping, maritime trade, and security, and even discuss the impacts of advanced technologies (e.g., AI and blockchain) on logistics and global industries. In the systematic framework proposed in Fig.…”

An effective distance-based centrality approach for exploring the centrality of maritime shipping network

“…For example, viral and disease transmission mechanisms ( Madar et al., 2004 ; Keeling and Eames, 2005 ; Meyers et al., 2005 ), internet and email network ( Newman et al., 2002 ; Yang and Yang, 2014 ), communication system ( Burgess, 1969 ; Cohen, 2010 ), and transportation networks ( Burghouwt, 2007 ; Zhang et al., 2016 ; Lowry, 2014 ). In recent years, it has been a popular research topic in maritime transportation as well ( Ducruet and Notteboom, 2012 ; Cheung et al., 2020 ; Hu et al., 2020a , 2020b ).…”