China mulls setting up military base in Pakistan

[RPK]

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China mulls setting up military base in Pakistan - China - World - The Times of India


BEIJING: China has signaled it wants to go the US way and set up military bases in overseas locations that would possibly include Pakistan. The

obvious purpose would be to exert pressure on India as well as counter US influence in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"(So) it is baseless to say that we will not set up any military bases in future because we have never sent troops abroad," an article published on Thursday at a Chinese government website said. "It is our right," the article said and went on to suggest that it would be done in the neighborhood, possibly Pakistan.

"As for the military aspect, we should be able to conduct the retaliatory attack within the country or at the neighboring area of our potential enemies. We should also be able to put pressure on the potential enemies' overseas interests," it said.

A military base in Pakistan will also help China keep a check on Muslim Uighur separatists fighting for an independent nation in its western region of Xingjian, which borders the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Beijing recently signed an agreement with the local government of NWFP in order to keep a close watch on the movement of Uighur ultras.

"I have personally felt for sometime that China might one day build a military base in India's neighborhood. China built the Gadwar port in Pakistan and is now broadening the Karokoram highway. These facilities can always be put to military use when the need arises," Ramesh V Phadke, former Air Commodore and advisor to the Institute of Defense Studies told TNN.

Phadke said the article in very significant. "The purpose may be to see how the international community reacts to it," he said.

China, which has no military bases outside its territory, has often criticized the United States for operating such overseas bases. It has not just changed its standpoint but also wants to enter the lucrative protection business.

"With further development, China will be in great demand of the military protection," the article said. Pakistan, which buys 70% of its military hardware from China, is likely to be an eager buyer for such protection. Beijing may also be able to pressurize Islamabad to accept its diktat using the threat of withholding military supplies.

A Pakistani expert on China-Pakistan relationship has a different view on the subject. "The Americans had a base in the past and it caused a political stink. I don’t think it would be politically possible for the Pakistani government to openly allow China to set up a military base," he said while requesting anonymity. Pakistan might allow use of its military facilities without publicly announcing it, he said.

A Chinese military base can tackle several international relations issues, it said. One of them is "the relationship between the base troops and the countries neighboring to the host country." This is another indication that Beijing is considering Pakistan as a possible base. China’s argument is that a foreign base would actually help regional stability.

"If the base troops can maintain the regional stability, it will be probably welcomed by all the countries in the region," the article said. Beijing is conscious that the move might result in opposition from the US, UK and France which has overseas military bases.

“Thirdly, the relationship between the big countries in the world. The establishment of the troop bases is sensitive to those big countries which have already set up the bases abroad," the article said.

[azfar]

The Americans had a base in the past and it caused a political stink. I don’t think it would be politically possible for the Pakistani government to openly allow China to set up a military base

I dont think that, may be every one

[Donatello]

See, Pakistan is of great strategic interest to world powers including China due to it's close proximity towards the Persian Gulf and major energy routes of the world. USA and China are both having an eye on Gwader or coastal areas of Balochistan as that would provide either of them the transit routes.
USA wants to harness energy reserves in Central Asia and bring them down to Balochistan and then ship them off.
China wants its ships to anchor at Gwader and transport energy via pipelines (which Pakistan and China are already considering) to north Pakistan and onwards to China.
Pakistan has more to gain by allowing China access as China has stood as a Pakistani ally and most of the weapons purchases in the next few years would be from China.
About USA, well, no one in Pakistan now trusts them. These Cartoons like Holbrooke and Obama are nothing but like any other.
I think it would be wise for Pakistan to allow China port facilities in Balochistan for its merchant and naval vessels. That way, both the Indian Navy and US Navy will have a tough fight.

[gpit]

Why is the news not coming from Pakistan, not from China, but from India?

Just make people feel more incredible...

[dccafe]

hypothesis =.="
this is not a news... but predictions... maybe this maybe that....
but until either side made any official announcement on this matter...
lets just wait and see.

[Imran Khan]

brother whats some one has problim its our country we sale us china or give them our all bases or even join china ppl will be happy hu jin tau is million times better then zardari.lol

[oct605032048]

The Karakorum Railway and Sino-Pakistan pipe line is far more important than a single base which can do nothing in front of the agni-missiles.

[kallol]

I am a new entrant to this forum, though I am a regular follower of "The Daily Times" and "Dawn". This forum also gives me an opportunity to understand the different perceptions better and how we all can move towards a better tomorrow.

"China mulls setting up military base in Pakistan" was in the news in India yesterday and my first cut analysis says that it might be a blessing for our region.

1. Due to various tangible and intangible reasons Pakistan percieves threat from India which is difficult to assuage and brush aside due to various factors both internal and external. This sense of insecurity may be relieved to an extent with Chiniese putting up base in Pakistan

2. Hopefully once this insecurity is reduced, Pakistan may be able to put more focus on other areas of development and economic ties.

3. There might be more pressure on disenchanted factions (like TTP, Uighur rebels, etc) who might have to alter their strategy and vision.

4. There might be more support in the critical trade route in the sea fighting the pirates.

5. Considering the stakes all the regional players have in the peaceful Afghanistan, Chinese presence in Pakistan might be a calming factor for the insecured players.

There might be some concerns from political India but I believe the world view may be different and India will fall in line as the stakes are much higher and there is no immediate threat between India and China.

For Pakistan people it might be more acceptable than having American bases. So it serves many purposes.

This breeds a suspicion that whether this idea is a joint evolution between a few countries after considering the constraints.

Only time will say. But we all fervently hope to settle down with peace in all of South Asia and focus on economic growth to remove the poverty, illiteracy, divides and under development.

[flameboard]

I say yes as long as Pakistan also sets up a base or bases in China.

[PakSher]

The source again is the Times of India and cannot be taken as authentic.

[Awesome]

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Look at the thread creation date. Obviously this was yet another shurli from the Indian media. It is a baseless claim. We were talking about why ToI is crap? This is why.