Quite true. And where that strategic importance doesn't directly play out in a military or armed-conflict role (though it may facilitate the transport of weapons of war), it might just as easily play out in political/social/economic ways that are equally important. My son recently shared this link with me:

[www.youtube.com]

Note the comments about locals being thrilled to have China's support, and that there's not much love for American or European influence in that region. Which is why I wrote the following excerpt (as part of a reading recommendation) a couple of years ago to close a piece on history's vital role in guiding the present and future handling of railways both in the U.S. and abroad:

"The Revenge of Geography: What the Map Tells Us About Coming Conflicts and the Battle Against Fate, by Robert D. Kaplan, compares and contrasts nations and continents, pinpoints their respective resources, explains the advantage of abundant coastlines and seaports (the U.S.) vs. being largely land- or ice-locked (Russia), then puts all of that into motion from the earliest recorded history to modern times. The role of railways in maintaining domestic strength is frequently mentioned. In particular, China’s expansion of rail lines into neighboring countries, as well as its investment in railway construction into parts of the Middle East and Africa (where America is now in virtual retreat), are described as commercial wins for those regions, and certainly for China, but not without security and economic concerns for the U.S. and the rest of the West."