Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

China Gains Entry into Malaysian and Pakistani Ports.

The Malaysian access puts China next to the Strait of Malacca while Pakistan’s Gwadar would place the Chinese next to the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Pacific Theatre 'on the campaign against terrorism' Australia and the US agreed that South East Asia was a key front.
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Much of the South East Asian front will be centered around the Malacca Strait.

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target.

More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait.
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Gwadar would place the Chinese navy next to Iran’s shipping lane the Strait of Hormuz. The Chinese have a considerable investment in Iran’s oil and gas. Bush plans on attacking Iran by choking the Strait of Hormuz.
See also:
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While this may change, an amphibious attack was originally targeted against Iran from the Arabian Sea, with a provocative US blockade in the Gulf of Oman to choke Iran’s sealanes of communications. Pakistan would be the base for mounting massive air reconnaissance and surveillance of Iran, while Iranian dissidents, backed by the US army, would launch land assaults from the Iraq-Iran border. Diplomatic sources say, the main body of the plan would remain the same, although component tactics could change.
http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/07/03/d40703100483.htm
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Note: The Chinese government utilizes the merchant fleet to support the military, and to deliver arms shipments. China’s shipbuilding industry is quickly growing to become a major force in this market.
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See also:
China's control of global shipping choke points
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-Am

Malaysia expanding ports to woo China

Saturday November 13, 2004


BY DAVID TAN
BEIJING: Malaysia is expanding its port facilities in the next five years to attract more shipping lines from China, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said.

“As I will be meeting with my counterpart in China today, I will stress the point that we are building new facilities in the next five years to expand our cargo handling and storage capabilities,” he said.

“We want to enhance our shipping ties with China,” he said yesterday after witnessing a signing ceremony between Chery Automobiles Co Ltd and Alado Corp Sdn Bhd.

Chan said the second-largest shipping line here had recently agreed to set up its headquarters for South-East Asia in Malaysia.

“Since Malaysia heads the working committee of Singapore-Kunming Railway Line (SKRL), I will also bring the matter of sourcing for financial and technical support from China with my counterpart here,” he said.

He added that the SKRL would be an important subject of discussion at the forthcoming Asean Transport Minister meeting.

On public transportation projects in the country, Chan said the Government was looking at grouping all relevant government agencies into one body to facilitate the implementation and coordination of those projects.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/11/13/nation/9396289&sec=nation