Foreign Correspondence

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Chinese role in Pak sends ripples in Washington

Writing for the New York Times, Nayan Chanda, former editor of Far Eastern Economic Review, says, "Port's projected size and strategic location have sent ripples of anxiety through Washington, Tokyo and New Delhi about the potential establishment of a permanent Chinese naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 per cent of the world's oil passes.

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Chinese role in Pak sends ripples in Washington

Thursday, April 21, 2005

The insular approach of the politicians ensured that no coverage at all was given to the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's recent trip to Pakistan.

As a result, India virtually missed the boat about the China-Pakistan Gwadar Port connection. Among the many deals that Wen signed with Pakistan included the deepening of the port to accommodate the giant ships that ferry oil and other necessities that are firing the huge Chinese economy's leap to supernationhood.

Writing for the New York Times, Nayan Chanda, former editor of Far Eastern Economic Review, says, "Port's projected size and strategic location have sent ripples of anxiety through Washington, Tokyo and New Delhi about the potential establishment of a permanent Chinese naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 per cent of the world's oil passes.

Although valid reasons for needing the port by the Chinese have been underscored, such as "commercial refueling and repair facilities", yet the possibility of the Chinese navy using the same for its warships is a troubling possibility.

A similar episode happened, surprisingly, in the 15th century (1415 to be precise) when, in another day and age, China awed the-then powers of Asia with their "technological and military prowess".

NYT's Chanda adds, "The Ming emperor Yongle, dispatched 63 vessels to the Indian Ocean in seven waves. China's first and thus far only blue-water navy consisted of multi-masted ships weighing 1,500 tons - Vasco da Gama's weighed only 300 tons - and carried 27,500 men up to the Persian Gulf and Africa's eastern shore."

While the Chinese Emperor's sway was long-over by the time Gama appeared on the scene in 1497, Wen on the other hand is looking to keep his country's energy needs supplied for the long term. 40% of its oil consumption comes from oil imports. This also means keeping the Indian Ocean waters free of any threats (including India's) in a crisis, assumes urgent necessity. Gwadar in a war situation will serve China to combat India's efforts to plug its (China's) oil imports.

Chanda writes, "A road, and eventually a pipeline, from Gwadar could give China an alternative energy route that it urgently needs and spur the development of its westernmost provinces. Hence its plan to provide more than a billion dollars in aid and loan guarantees for building at Gwadar."

However, for India the consequences don't stop there. For, a fully-armed Chinese flotilla at Gwadar, in addition to their influence and use of Myanmar's Coco Islands and a Chinese desire to have a deep-water port near Yangon will virtually surround India.

With containment in its own bailiwick staring it in the face, that India and its politicians are not suffering from claustrophobia is unfathomable. Here is a once-hostile country carrying on a virtual annexation of territories (willing partners in Pakistan and Myanmar, at least), yet no concern is expressed, at least publicly. Things really assume alarming proportions when China's efforts to woo Bangladesh and Cambodia through aid are added to the equation.

Not only is India losing its bargaining power vis-à-vis China, it is losing its sway over Pakistan. That may have chilling consequences. With the Chinese navy acting as a deterrent, how effective India will be in bringing to heel a war-like Pak is anybody's guess.

India, by losing its power over an area of Earth that is named after it, Indian Ocean, will be a very reduced force.

Is it any wonder, NYT further adds, "China Economic Net, an online news outlet sponsored by China's leading business paper, calls Gwadar "China's biggest harvest."

So, whether, China uses these facilities for its navy to act as the regional bully, is too early to call, nevertheless, the fact remains that possibilities of that happening can be gauged from the fact that India and China have already fought a war that the former lost.

Whether or not China in Indian Ocean does give an economic boost to the region, how exactly India can guard itself against the "swimming dragon" needs to be addressed chop, chop.



URL: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=44981