Pakistan turns to China for naval base

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By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad and Kathrin Hille in Beijing

Published: May 22 2011 13:22 | Last updated: May 22 2011 19:46

Pakistan has asked China to build a naval base at its south-western port of Gwadar and expects the Chinese navy to maintain a regular presence there, a plan likely to alarm both India and the US.

“We have asked our Chinese brothers to please build a naval base at Gwadar,” Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, Pakistan’s defence minister, told the Financial Times, confirming that the request was conveyed to China during a visit last week by Yusuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan’s prime minister.

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Such a foothold would be the first overseas location offering support to the People’s Liberation Army navy for future out-of-area missions and so would be likely to reinforce international concerns over Beijing’s longer-term military ambitions.

“This will definitely be a ‘game changer’ in China’s defence and security relationships,” said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, a south Asia security expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “The construction of a naval base in Gwadar would provide its own ships and possibly submarines with ‘permanent’ basing rights, along with the possibility of regular patrols and exercises in the Arabian Sea to protect the growing number of Chinese-flagged oil tankers traversing the region to meet its increasing energy demands from the Gulf region.”

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It could antagonise India as it comes amid a strengthening of China’s military ties with Pakistan.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3914bd36-8467-11e0-afcb-00144feabdc0.html

Edited May 22, 2011 by \

[justashooter 430]

not ever going to happen. just some pissed off afghanis poking the world with the sharpest stick they have, which ain't saying much.

[Pooky 3,825]

not ever going to happen. just some pissed off afghanis poking the world with the sharpest stick they have, which ain't saying much.

Why not?

China is already Pakistan's major military hardware supplier. Chinese industry is already cooperating with Pakistan to build aircraft for the PAF. Why not a naval base in a strategically important location?

It sends a message to the US that Pakistan has other "friends" and to India that its two most antagonistic neighbours are clearly working together. How does China not gain from this?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Translation--it shows its true colours and agrees to be a sublet-province of China to ensure best hide-behind.

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sublet province?

do you find regular conversational english challenging?