Turkey’s growing realignment with China, Iran and Pakistan

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Turkey’s growing realignment with China, Iran and Pakistan​

Posted on October 9, 2010 by The Editors

Chinese and Turkish air force has conducted joint exercises, in activities that would seem to be the first exercise involving a member state of Beijing and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

•An economic and commercial cooperation agreement and three memoranda of understanding signed Friday between Turkey and China, during Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s visit to Ankara, aim to boost mutual trade and improve economic relations, Turkish State Ministry for foreign trade said in a statement.
•Zafer Caglayan’s office said that the economic cooperation agreement would pave the way for export of semi-processed and finished products from Turkey to China, make use of China’s cheap labor and natural resources, boost Turkish investments in China’s real sector and help Turkish companies open up to world markets.
•Three memoranda of understanding would create a plan in 2010 on a joint study for medium and long term development of mutual commercial and economic cooperation, set up a joint working group to revive the Silk Road, world’s oldest trade route, and also increase cooperation in construction industry to help Turkish and Chinese construction firms work together in third countries.
•Turkey’s exports to China totaled $1.59 billion in 2009. In return, Turkey’s imports reached $12.65 billion.
Turkey has given guarantee to the United States that the country would “fully careful” to protect U.S. technology and NATO are sensitive, said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Tamara Parker, a spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department said Friday. He depicts, the Turkish government is committed to the NATO alliance and the sustainability of a strong relationship with the United States. “As far as our knowledge is certain, the F-16 fighter planes made by U.S. is not involved in training,” said Parker.

According to Turkish press reports, the exercise took place on 20 September to 4 October at the air base at Konya in Anatolia region of Turkey middle.

Some U.S. experts described the exercise as an attempt to emphasize the ability of China to operate melewasti territory. David Finkelstein, director of China Studies at the CNA research group in Alexandria, Virginia, says, probably will be the first time the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLA) of China engaged in joint training with a NATO country. “Indeed, the new PLA expedition started being made,” said Finkelstein.

Another Pentagon official, who asked not to be named, said there are indications that the Turkish air force has flown fighter planes F-4 Phantom, used extensively during the Vietnam War, while flying the SU-27 China-made Russia.

China-Turkish maneuvers took place before the visit of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Turkey this weekend. Turkey and China aims to triple two-way trade to be worth 50 billion dollars a year in 2015 based on a new strategic partnership, said Wen at a press conference in Ankara on Friday, with Prime accept Turkey Tayyip Erdogan.

•Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and China Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday their two countries would from now on trade using their own currencies, effectively excluding the U.S. dollar.
•The two leaders also pledged to triple trade between China and Turkey to $50 billion within five years, and to $100 billion by 2020, speaking at a joint news conference in Ankara that marked the final stop of Mr. Wen’s European tour.
•“We are forming an economic strategic partnership … In all of our relations, we have agreed to use the lira and yuan,” Mr. Erdogan said.
Growing trilateral ties between Turkey, Islamic Republic of Iran and China has made Israel and U.S. concerned and the duo is watching with concern the growing military cooperation among the three Asian powerhouses, especially following a joint Turkish-Chinese air-force exercise last week.

Until two years ago Israel was Turkey’s main partner for air combat training and the Israel Air Force was a frequent guest in Turkey’s sky and a regular participant in the country’s big annual exercise, Anatolian Eagle.

In the wake of carnage in Gaza dubbed ‘Operation Cast Lead’ the page turned and Turkey last year revoked Israel’s participation in such war games.

Turkey replaced the Israel Air Force with its Chinese counterpart. China sent Sukhoi SU-27 fighter aircraft and pilots to train with Turkey’s F-16 fighters. In the past these exercises were held in relatively openness, but last week they were held covertly so as to keep the new enemy, Israel, in dark over the case. Only a brief report appeared in the Turkish media after the exercise.

The West has been watching the changes in the Chinese army’s structure, and especially the long-range naval and aerial exercises that indicate Beijing’s intention to acquire the ability to conduct warfare far from China’s borders.

The Obama administration protested Turkey’s military cooperation with Iran after it was reported that the Chinese fighter planes were sent to Turkey via Pakistan and Iran.

The developing ties among Turkey, Iran and China are also reflected in weapons deals, with Iran buying from China mainly missile technology.

A report in western dailes has claimed that the C-802 antiship missile fired by Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War at the Israel Navy’s Hanit missile boat had been manufactured in Iran with Chinese technology.

China has also developed a surface-to-surface rocket-launching system together with Turkey. China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao is due to visit Ankara this month and to sign several bilateral cooperation agreements.

Turkey and China are also involved in projects to build oil pipelines from Iran.

The Middle East seems to be experiencing new political orders and the main loser amidst the developments seems to be the United States.

Turkey cooperates with Pakistan in Satellites, and Missiles. Ankara seems interested in importing the JF-17 Thunders.

Turkey’s growing realignment with China, Iran and Pakistan Rupee News