There are growing tensions between the United States and China. A crisis over Taiwan no longer seems unthinkable. In this hostile environment, will the Strait of Malacca be the deciding factor in whether the cooler heads will prevail? ©“150321-N-LX437-771” by Naval Surface Warriors. Licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0 The “Malacca Dilemma" In November 2003, Chinese President Hu Jintao coined the term “Malacca Dilemma". This term referred to China’s over-reliance on the Malacca Strait