Posted on 03/27/2006 4:07:40 AM PST by IrishMike
Overlooked during America's preoccupation with the Dubai ports deal is a much more imminent threat - China's methodical campaign to gain control of global ports that are strategically positioned to support military or economic actions against the United States - a move that has gone virtually unnoticed.
The powerful Chinese-owned Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. is now the world's biggest cargo terminal operator, according to London-based Drewry Shipping Consultants. It also is the world's largest port owner.
Hutchison Port Holdings has assumed control of scores of potential economic choke points, including 169 berths at 41 ports worldwide. These facilities control about 15 percent of global maritime container traffic.
Some of Hutchison's ports lie near key sea lines of communication, such as the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal and the eastern coast of the United States. Of the eight international regions with choke points labeled by the Department of Defense as "U.S. lifelines and transit regions," Hutchison has ports in six.
"Amidst the furor over a U.A.E. corporate takeover of major U.S. and Canadian seaports, scant notice has been given to the longstanding and continuing threat from the PRC/Triad [People's Republic of China and Chinese mobsters] 'business' presence at seaports around the world, including the U.S. and Canada," stated a top-level Canadian port security analyst.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
China is getting ready to compete when the oil runs out.
Hardly. There will be no war over Taiwan. Mark my words.
Why are you so sure?
I want YOU to be right, don't get me wrong.
They are building one port in Gwadar (in Pakistan), close to US interests in the Middle East.
By now we are all sophisticated enough to understand the difference. One would hope those who seek to inform us would know it too.
From the article: "China's methodical campaign to gain control of global ports that are strategically positioned to support military or economic actions against the United States "
- Yeah and if China were to try something that stupid along those lines their actions will cause the world to go into global depression, end up rallying the world against them which cumulatively effectively destroys any power it has over its own people. You can bet they have no real power to use ports as a weapon. It is self defeating. It could only be a checkmate if there are no repercussions in such action. In essence, it's an economic version of MAD and nothing we should seriously be worried about. In fact the current reality is beneficial to the us because capitalism will eventually cause a revolution in China and turn them from the dark side (Communism).
BTTT
Good question, and an important point. This "news source" isn't one that I check when I need information.
Still, this "news source" posts in FR.
You wrote: "BTTT"
- Forgive my ignorance but what does BTTT stand for again?
Also, remember we never had to use our nuclear weapons. All we had to do is have them. Same with the ports.
"Also, remember we never had to use our nuclear weapons."
- Tell that to Japan. Besides, what good is having if there is not serious threat to actually use them?
In a world filled with cruise missiles the Three Gorges Dam is a long-term committment to peace. :)
Besides, what good is having if there is not serious threat to actually use them?
Having something, or controlling a strategic something, is automatically a serious threat to actually use it. It's a military maxim that you analyze a threat situation by the potential, not the current use.
Regardless, using the ports as a weapon would only be a sort of checkmate if there were little or no repercussion to such an action. China vs. the world is a losing hand my friend. China could not use the ports as a weapon without condemning itself to death in the process. The two actions cancel each other out. The very fact that China is engaging in capitalism, even if only to prop up is communist regime, is good news. Capitalism brings the pining of freedom along with it. Capitalism and freedom are inseparable. Eventually the idea of freedom will erode the power the communist have over their people and the revolution will commence. China is already having a hard time quashing religious movements (Christianity) and free thought and expression brought forth by a free market system. Its only a matter of time. China will fall to its own people, mark my words, and it will all happen seemingly from a position of weakness on our part.
Whistling in the dark or whistling by the graveyard are meant to portray confidence when faced with fear or danger or defeat.
Are you suggesting that I am wrong to downplay the threat and be optimistic or I am right in my bold position against the clamoring of defeatism and fear?
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