China Takes Lead in Asia’s Economic Great Game

[Valin]

Via Meadia:

8/5/13

 

A Chinese-built mega-port in the capital of Sri Lanka began the process of opening for business today. The enormous facility was built mostly with Chinese money and resources and sits astride some of the most important maritime transport routes in the world. Operating at full capacity, it would be one of the 20-largest container ports in the world.

 

Some policy-makers and analysts, especially in India, fret that Chinas network of ports and facilities, stretching from the South China Sea across the Indian Ocean to Africa and the Gulf, is a threat to national security and international stability, but this fear is overblown. The so-called string of pearls is not a network of naval bases, and India should not fear that Beijing will use it to tighten the noose around the Indian subcontinent. Instead, India has something even more important to worry about: falling behind in the quest for economic supremacy in the Indo-Pacific.

 

With the massive new port in Colombo, China makes a strong claim to the title of chief maritime businessman in the region. Its companies have invested in numerous port facilities not just across the Indian and Pacific oceans but also in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Many of the worlds largest container ports are in China, and state-owned companies control roughly a fifth of the worlds container traffic. By weight almost half the new ships built in 2012 were constructed in China. Chinese companies are angling to take advantage of a new breed of mammoth container ships now coming into service. Colombos new deep harbor and new facilities can cope with these monster ships.

 

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[Valin]

Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power
Robert D Kapan
September 13, 2011

On the world maps common in America, the Western Hemisphere lies front and center, while the Indian Ocean region all but disappears. This convention reveals the geopolitical focus of the now-departed twentieth century, but in the twenty-first century that focus will fundamentally change. In this pivotal examination of the countries known as Monsoon Asiawhich include India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia, Burma, Oman, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Tanzaniabestselling author Robert D. Kaplan shows how crucial this dynamic area has become to American power. It is here that the fight for democracy, energy independence, and religious freedom will be lost or won, and it is here that American foreign policy must concentrate if the United States is to remain relevant in an ever-changing world. From the Horn of Africa to the Indonesian archipelago and beyond, Kaplan exposes the effects of population growth, climate change, and extremist politics on this unstable region, demonstrating why Americans can no longer afford to ignore this important area of the world.

[Valin]

Is Sri Lanka Becoming A Key Player In Chinas String Of Pearls?

6/13/13

 

 

China has offered Sri Lanka new loans for infrastructure projects, worth US$ 2.2 billion dollars. In a reply to a question, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mr. Hong Lei told the news media that in addition to infrastructure loans, both countries agreed to further deepen defence cooperation and maintain exchanges between two defence ministries, whilst they continue to carry out in cooperating defence technology, personal training and other fields. Yet, the spokesperson did not reveal further details regarding the nature of the new strategic cooperation.

 

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However, the growing China-Sri Lanka relationship has raised US-Indian concerns over Sri Lankas strategic priorities in the Indian Ocean and according to some analysts, Sri Lanka is becoming a key player in Chinas String of Pearls strategy, which is understood as aiming at encountering the American maritime power along the sea lines of communications (SLOC) and connecting China to vital energy resources in Africa and the Middle East.

 

As it is understood, there are several pearls in the Chinese String of Pearls: a Hainan Islands upgraded military facility, a Woody Island airstrip, a container shipping facility in Chittagong, Bangladesh, a deep water port in Sittwe, Myanmar, a fuelling station in Hambantota harbour, Sri Lanka and a navy base in Gwadar, Pakistan. The countrys top oil and gas producer China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), has recently completed the construction of natural gas pipeline from Myanmar to China, a strategic link which will allow China to avoid any possible military blockade in the Malacca Strait.

 

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[Valin]

[Valin]

Via Meadia: China to Japan: Negotiate? Nah.

8/27/13

 

China brushed away an offer from Japan to negotiate over disputed territory in the East China Sea today. On several occasions Japan has offered to send high-level officials to China to discuss the sensitive issue, but China has shown no interest. A meeting between leaders is not simply for the sake of shaking hands and taking pictures, but to resolve problems, Li Baodong, Chinas deputy foreign minister, told reporters.

 

If Japan wants to arrange a meeting to resolve problems, they should stop with the empty talk and doing stuff for show, Li continued. China also responded angrily to comments made by Senator John McCain last week in which he referred to the Senkaku Islands as Japanese territory.

 

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[NCTexan]

 

China also responded angrily to comments made by Senator John McCain last week in which he referred to the Senkaku Islands as Japanese territory.

 

Interestingly China and I see a few things in the same way.... John McCain makes me angry just about every time he opens his mouth lately.