Posted on 04/02/2007 7:50:43 AM PDT by milestogo
By Henry Chu, Times Staff Writer
April 1, 2007
GWADAR, PAKISTAN — Along a scenic beach where fishermen mend their nets by hand, an endless row of storefronts stretches into the distance, all selling the same thing. Not sunscreen, umbrellas or cold drinks. Land.
Never mind that the area is home to a violent separatist movement, or that foreigners are regarded with suspicion by police. A property boom has hit this formerly sleepy town in southwest Pakistan because of the latest addition to Gwadar's modest charms: a strategic new port on the Arabian Sea, almost all of it paid for by China.
The deepwater port has the potential to become a major shipping hub for Central Asia and China, particularly for the oil that China is sucking up to fuel its explosive growth. Gwadar, near the Iranian border, sits close to the entrance to the Persian Gulf and the Middle East, China's biggest source of crude.
But officials in countries such as India and the United States are eyeing the port warily, seeing more there than mere commercial value.
They fear its possible future use as a base for Chinese ships and submarines, given the close ties the governments of China and Pakistan have enjoyed for decades. From Gwadar, analysts note, China could project its growing economic and military might westward, toward the Middle East, western India and eastern Africa, and down into the Indian Ocean.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
China ping.
But, but, the Chinese are our frieeeeeeeeends.
After Iran...there looms China.
How will we handle the twin enemies: Islam and China?
Incubation area for Muslim fanatics and military encampment for the Communists. It's hard to see what other purpose the existence of Pakistan serves.
A few statistics for you to think about.
Over 85% of China's imported oil goes through the Straits of Malacca.
The breakdown of who they are importing oil from goes as follows:
Angola 16%; Saudi Arabia 16%; Iran 12%; Russia 11%; Oman 9%; Congo 4%; Guinea 4%; "others" 28%.
"others" are places like Kuwait, Sudan, Nigeria, Lybia, Indonesia, UAE, etc.
China is primarily a coal economy. If you took a snapshot of their energy usage, it would be over 65% coal, and about 12% oil.
They are importing just over half of their oil, or about 6% of their national needs of energy.
Its likely China will stay coal centric or go more nuclear for quite some time.
China will form a state owned investment arm.link
With that being said, I would see Thailand as being a major beneficiary in this deal, not Pakistan.
There has been ideas floated for years about building refining and/or pipelines across Thailand.
The next step is to figure out the economics of it all. I could see them teaming up with Japan on this project because the goals are not mutually exclusive.
I could also see Columbia and possibly Argentina getting some money too as alternative oil suppliers. Venezuela is already playing ball from the looks of it.
Why the other two are not already doing this, I do not know.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
This is great news! Seriously China is of little concern to us. China's future has been hitched to capitalist economic policies. The more capitalist they become then richer and more stable their country will get. And like the Japanese they may well be better capitalists in the long run than we are. Chinese are an innovated and hard working culture historically.
However China has problems, 40 million more men than women due to the scourge of social engineering. They are militarizing to protect their assets and need an enemy to keep the country nationalized and behind the govt.
I think the ultimate goal is for them to gain significant interest in the middle-east. Hell, They could invade all of Arabia & Persia and we'd let them keep it. Western powers will never be able to counter or destroy Islam, maybe Eastern powers will have a shot at it.
******However China has problems, 40 million more men than women due to the scourge of social engineering. They are militarizing to protect their assets and need an enemy to keep the country nationalized and behind the govt.****
You are exactly right - the huge demographic problem and what to do with all those “unoccupied” young males.
The real problem - as you stated is.....”needing an enemy”.....
I think they are (or will be) looking for an enemy and I’m afraid the only one worthwhile confronting is us.
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