A shadow blockade of China's energy trade

China's dependence on energy shipments passing India creates a potential source of Indian leverage in this hypothetical scenario. Meticulous document checks on tankers and gas carriers would slow trade without an openly declared war, a form of pressure termed a shadow blockade. The proposal assumes that efficient Gulf-to-China routes pass through India's exclusive economic zone and that India could use inspections there. The legal authority for those checks is not established. Ships could take longer routes, but changing a continuous import flow would bring costs and disruption. The regular rhythm and scale of energy deliveries matter as much as the availability of another route. Chinese interference with trade moving in the opposite direction is a possible retaliatory response. The scenario's logistical argument rests on the difficulty of adjusting a large, continuous flow quickly.