The Irtysh River's Chokehold: A Tainted Solution to China's Arctic Ambitions The proposed conversion of the 4,248km long Irtysh River into a cargo route has sparked renewed interest in China's ability to bypass Western maritime chokepoints.
However, this idea may be overly simplistic as a solution to its shipping woes.
The Irtysh River's path through Kazakhstan and Russia before flowing into the Arctic Ocean might suggest an easy detour around the Malacca and Bering straits.