Chinese Naval base in Sri Lanka!

[SSGPA1]

This is an awesome development and will be benficial to both China and Pakistan.
*******************************
Chinese billions in Sri Lanka fund battle against Tamil Tigers

Jeremy Page, South Asia Correspondent
On the southern coast of Sri Lanka, ten miles from one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, a vast construction site is engulfing the once sleepy fishing town of Hambantota.

This poor community of 21,000 people is about as far as one can get on the island from the fighting between the army and the Tamil Tiger rebels on the northeastern coast. The sudden spurt of construction helps, however, to explain why the army is poised to defeat the Tigers and why Western governments are so powerless to negotiate a ceasefire to help civilians trapped on the front line.

This is where China is building a $1 billion port that it plans to use as a refuelling and docking station for its navy, as it patrols the Indian Ocean and protects China’s supplies of Saudi oil. Ever since Sri Lanka agreed to the plan, in March 2007, China has given it all the aid, arms and diplomatic support it needs to defeat the Tigers, without worrying about the West.

Even India, Sri Lanka’s long-time ally and the traditionally dominant power in South Asia, has found itself sidelined in the past two years — to its obvious irritation. “China is fishing in troubled waters,” Palaniappan Chidambaram, India’s Home Minister, warned last week.

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The Chinese say that Hambantota is a purely commercial venture, but many US and Indian military planners regard it as part of a “string of pearls” strategy under which China is also building or upgrading ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Burma.

The strategy was outlined in a paper by Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher J. Pehrson, of the Pentagon’s Air Staff, in 2006, and again in a report by the US Joint Forces Command in November. “For China, Hambantota is a commercial venture, but it’s also an asset for future use in a very strategic location,” Major-General (Retd) Dipankar Banerjee of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in Delhi said.

The British Navy used the Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee as its main regional base until 1957 and still shares a naval base with the US on the nearby island of Diego Garcia. China has no immediate plans for a fully fledged naval base but wants a similar foothold in the Indian Ocean to protect its oil supplies from piracy or blockade by a foreign power, analysts say.

Beijing sent three ships on an unprecedented anti-piracy mission to the Gulf of Aden in December, and in January a Chinese defence White Paper said that the navy was “developing capabilities of conducting co-operation in distant waters . . .”

China has cultivated ties with Sri Lanka for decades and became its biggest arms supplier in the 1990s, when India and Western governments refused to sell weapons to Colombo for use in the civil war. Beijing appears to have increased arms sales significantly to Sri Lanka since 2007, when the US suspended military aid over human rights issues.

Many of the arms have been bought through Lanka Logistics & Technologies, co-headed by Gotabhaya Rajapksa, the Defence Secretary, who is also the President’s brother.

In April 2007 Sri Lanka signed a classified $37.6 million (£25 million) deal to buy Chinese ammunition and ordnance for its army and navy, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly.

China gave Sri Lanka — apparently free of charge — six F7 jet fighters last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, after a daring raid by the Tigers’ air wing destroyed ten military aircraft in 2007. One of the Chinese fighters shot down one of the Tigers’ aircraft a year later.

“China’s arms sales have been the decisive factor in ending the military stalemate,” Brahma Chellaney, of the Centre for Policy Research in Delhi, said. “There seems to have been a deal linked to Hambantota.”

Since 2007 China has encouraged Pakistan to sell weapons to Sri Lanka and to train Sri Lankan pilots to fly the Chinese fighters, according to Indian security sources.

China has also provided crucial diplomatic support in the UN Security Council, blocking efforts to put Sri Lanka on the agenda. It has also boosted financial aid to Sri Lanka, even as Western countries have reduced their contributions.

China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped from a few million dollars in 2005 to almost $1 billion last year, replacing Japan as the biggest foreign donor. By comparison, the United States gave $7.4 million last year, and Britain just £1.25 million.

“That’s why Sri Lanka has been so dismissive of international criticism,” said B. Raman of the Chennai Centre for China Studies. “It knows it can rely on support from China.”

Chinese billions in Sri Lanka fund battle against Tamil Tigers - Times Online

 

[sohailbutt]

My question:

Why make Gwadar a military naval port, why can't we offer Chinese Navy Omara or Pasni, they are close to Gwadar?

Can any one please share their thoughts to the above question?

 

[yh1]

This is typical Indian propaganda!!! As we all know there's absolutely nothing military at Gwadar or Hambantota. Even if we might want to establish military bases there in the future it has nothing to do with Indians.

 

[Omar1984]

To my understanding Gwadar Port is not built for military reasons but is built for economic reasons for trade that can help Pakistan's economy and bring all the regions surrounding Pakistan together so they can trade with one another.

For example, China does trade with Middle East through Gwadar and Middle East does trade with China through Gwadar, Middle East does trade with Central Asia thorugh Gwadar and Central Asia does trade with Middle East through Gwadar, and China does trade with Central Asia through Gwadar and Central Asia does trade with China through Gwadar.

Pakistan is in a very important place in the world. We have Middle East and Central Asia to our west, China to our north-east, and India to our east. If relations with India were good, there would be plans for India also to do trade with Middle East, Central Asia, and China through Gwadar but India doesn't want anything to benefit Pakistan.

Maybe Pakistan and China should make plans on setting a Chinese naval base in Gwadar also.

 

[sohailbutt]

To my understanding Gwadar Port is not built for military reasons but is built for economic reasons for trade that can help Pakistan's economy and bring all the regions surrounding Pakistan together so they can trade with one another.

For example, China does trade with Middle East through Gwadar and Middle East does trade with China through Gwadar, Middle East does trade with Central Asia thorugh Gwadar and Central Asia does trade with Middle East through Gwadar, and China does trade with Central Asia through Gwadar and Central Asia does trade with China through Gwadar.

Pakistan is in a very important place in the world. We have Middle East and Central Asia to our west, China to our north-east, and India to our east. If relations with India were good, there would be plans for India also to do trade with Middle East, Central Asia, and China through Gwadar but India would like nothing to benefit Pakistan.

Maybe Pakistan and China should make plans on setting a Chinese naval base in Gwadar also.

Omar bhai, your answer is correct, but my question was not clear, i messed up with my question somehow, anyway my point was why not give Pasni or Omara permanently to China so it can develop its naval base over there just to defend its cargo of goods to various parts of the world.

I would love to see a permanent Chinese naval base even a permamnent Chinese Airbase in pasni or omara, it would be awesome, and a new chapter of PAK-CHINA relations will open up in our mutual history, what do you think about this?

 

[sohailbutt]

This is typical Indian propaganda!!! As we all know there's absolutely nothing military at Gwadar or Hambantota. Even if we might want to establish military bases there in the future it has nothing to do with Indians.

Don't worry about Indian's they always do this when ever we try to take a step in the right direction, it is in their Government's nature!

Anyway, China is a true friend and brother of Pakistan, for China anything goes, you ask one base we will give you 2 bases, consider Pakistan your second home.

 

[Omar1984]

Omar bhai, your answer is correct, but my question was not clear, i messed up with my question somehow, anyway my point was why not give Pasni or Omara permanently to China so it can develop its naval base over there just to defend its cargo of goods to various parts of the world.

I would love to see a permanent Chinese naval base even a permamnent Chinese Airbase in pasni or omara, it would be awesome, and a new chapter of PAK-CHINA relations will open up in our mutual history, what do you think about this?

I think that's a great idea. China and Pakistan always look for mutual intersts for both countries. A permanent Chinese naval base in Pakistan would be very beneficial to both Pakistan and China.

Long Live Pakistan-China friendship

 

[Max The Boss]

On the southern coast of Sri Lanka, ten miles from one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, a vast construction site is engulfing the once sleepy fishing town of Hambantota.
This poor community of 21,000 people is about as far as one can get on the island from the fighting between the army and the Tamil Tiger rebels on the northeastern coast. The sudden spurt of construction helps, however, to explain why the army is poised to defeat the Tigers and why Western governments are so powerless to negotiate a ceasefire to help civilians trapped on the front line.
This is where China is building a $1 billion port that it plans to use as a refueling and docking station for its navy, as it patrols the Indian Ocean and protects China’s supplies of Saudi oil. Ever since Sri Lanka agreed to the plan, in March 2007, China has given it all the aid, arms and diplomatic support it needs to defeat the Tigers, without worrying about the West.
Even India has found itself sidelined in the past two years — to its obvious irritation. “China is fishing in troubled waters,” Palaniappan Chidambaram, India’s Home Minister, told last week.
The Chinese say that Hambantota is a purely commercial venture, but many US military planners regard it as part of a “string of pearls” strategy under which China is also building or upgrading ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Myanmar.
The strategy was outlined in a paper by Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher J. Pehrson, of the Pentagon’s Air Staff, in 2006, and again in a report by the US Joint Forces Command in November. “For China, Hambantota is a commercial venture, but it’s also an asset for future use in a very strategic location,” Major-General (Retd) Dipankar Banerjee of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in Delhi said.
The British Navy used the Sri Lankan port of Trincomalee as its main regional base until 1957 and still shares a naval base with the US on the nearby island of Diego Garcia. China has no immediate plans for a fully fledged naval base but wants a similar foothold in the Indian Ocean to protect its oil supplies from piracy or blockade by a foreign power, analysts say.
Beijing sent three ships on an unprecedented anti-piracy mission to the Gulf of Aden in December, and in January a Chinese defence White Paper said that the navy was “developing capabilities of conducting co-operation in distant waters . . .”
China has cultivated ties with Sri Lanka for decades and became its biggest arms supplier in the 1990s, when India and Western governments refused to sell weapons to Colombo for use in the civil war. Beijing appears to have increased arms sales significantly to Sri Lanka since 2007, when the US suspended military aid over human rights issues.
Many of the arms have been bought through Lanka Logistics & Technologies, co-headed by Gotabhaya Rajapksa, the Defence Secretary, who is also the President’s brother.
In April 2007 Sri Lanka signed a classified $37.6 million deal to buy Chinese ammunition and ordnance for its army and navy, according to Jane’s Defence Weekly.
China gave Sri Lanka apparently free of charge six F7 jet fighters last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, after a daring raid by the Tigers’ air wing destroyed ten military aircraft in 2007. One of the Chinese F7 fighters shot down one of the Tigers’ aircraft a year later.
“China’s arms sales have been the decisive factor in ending the military stalemate,” Brahma Chellaney, of the Centre for Policy Research in Delhi, said. “There seems to have been a deal linked to Hambantota.”
Since 2007 China has encouraged Pakistan to sell weapons to Sri Lanka and to train Sri Lankan pilots to fly the Chinese F7 fighters, according to Indian security sources.
China has also provided crucial diplomatic support in the UN Security Council, blocking efforts to put Sri Lanka on the agenda. It has also boosted financial aid to Sri Lanka, even as Western countries have reduced their contributions.
China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped to almost $1 billion last year, replacing Japan as the biggest foreign donor. By comparison China gave $1 billion last year, Japan gave $800 million last year and United States gave $7.4 million last year and Britain just $1.25 million. China is now Sri Lanka’s biggest foreign donor.
“That’s why Sri Lanka has been so dismissive of international criticism,” said B. Raman of the Chennai Centre for China Studies. “It knows it can rely on support from China.”
Chinese billions in Sri Lanka fund battle against Tamil Tigers - Times Online
Thanks China. For Supporting Sri Lanka.

 

[MZUBAIR]

I think that's a great idea. China and Pakistan always look for mutual intersts for both countries. A permanent Chinese naval base in Pakistan would be very beneficial to both Pakistan and China.

Long Live Pakistan-China friendship

That was also in my mind few months ago. Idea is not bad.
But now I think this will be an immature step, nither Pakistan will not like to do nor China would like to do this because of strategical issues.

Pakistan naval force is batter then Sri lankan Naval force so why they feel unsecure to deploy China Naval and Air force in Pakistan.

Pakistan and China might have some strong understanding at the time of extreme emergency.

 

[Omar1984]

That is very good news for Sri Lanka.

Congratulations Sri Lanka, we Pakistanis are happy for you.

 

[Omar1984]

That was also in my mind few months ago. Idea is not bad.
But now I think this will be an immature step, nither Pakistan will not like to do nor China would like to do this because of strategical issues.

Pakistan naval force is batter then Sri lankan Naval force so why they feel unsecure to deploy China Naval and Air force in Pakistan.

Pakistan and China might have some strong understanding at the time of extreme emergency.

The purpose of the port is for International trade and to improve Pakistan's economy.

I didn't think it had anything to do with military bases, but I am certain Pakistan can trust China, our closest ally. If, in the future, China wants to set their naval base in Gwadar or some other place in Pakistan they are welcome.

 

[Max The Boss]

China spends billions in Sri lanka

China has begun construction of a naval port in Hambantota which it plans to to use as a refuelling and docking station for its navy, as it patrols the Indian Ocean and protects China’s supplies of Saudi oil.

The cost of the port is estimated at $ 1 billion. It was in March 2007 that Sri lanka and China came into agreement to build the port. Because of the agreement between the two countries, China has given Sri lanka all the aid, arms and diplomatic support it needs to defeat the Tigers, without worrying about the West.

Although China says that Hambantota is a purely commercial venture, many US military planners regard it as part of a “string of pearls” strategy under which China is also building or upgrading ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Burma.

Although China was Sri lanka's biggest arms supplier in the 1990s, its arms sales increased significantly to Sri Lanka since 2007.

China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped to almost $1 billion last year. By comparison China gave $1 billion last year, Japan gave $800 million last year and United States gave $7.4 million last year and Britain just $1.25 million. China is now Sri Lanka’s biggest foreign donor.

China spends billions in Sri lanka to build port | NowPublic News Coverage

 

[Max The Boss]

China spends billions in Sri lanka

China has begun construction of a naval port in Hambantota which it plans to to use as a refuelling and docking station for its navy, as it patrols the Indian Ocean and protects China’s supplies of Saudi oil.

The cost of the port is estimated at $ 1 billion. It was in March 2007 that Sri lanka and China came into agreement to build the port. Because of the agreement between the two countries, China has given Sri lanka all the aid, arms and diplomatic support it needs to defeat the Tigers, without worrying about the West.

Although China says that Hambantota is a purely commercial venture, many US military planners regard it as part of a “string of pearls” strategy under which China is also building or upgrading ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Burma.

Although China was Sri lanka's biggest arms supplier in the 1990s, its arms sales increased significantly to Sri Lanka since 2007.

China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped to almost $1 billion last year. By comparison China gave $1 billion last year, Japan gave $800 million last year and United States gave $7.4 million last year and Britain just $1.25 million. China is now Sri Lanka’s biggest foreign donor.

China spends billions in Sri lanka to build port | NowPublic News Coverage

 

[Max The Boss]

Thanks China. for the support.

 

[Omar1984]

China spends billions in Sri lanka

China has begun construction of a naval port in Hambantota which it plans to to use as a refuelling and docking station for its navy, as it patrols the Indian Ocean and protects China’s supplies of Saudi oil.

The cost of the port is estimated at $ 1 billion. It was in March 2007 that Sri lanka and China came into agreement to build the port. Because of the agreement between the two countries, China has given Sri lanka all the aid, arms and diplomatic support it needs to defeat the Tigers, without worrying about the West.

Although China says that Hambantota is a purely commercial venture, many US military planners regard it as part of a “string of pearls” strategy under which China is also building or upgrading ports at Gwadar in Pakistan, Chittagong in Bangladesh and Sittwe in Burma.

Although China was Sri lanka's biggest arms supplier in the 1990s, its arms sales increased significantly to Sri Lanka since 2007.

China’s aid to Sri Lanka jumped to almost $1 billion last year. By comparison China gave $1 billion last year, Japan gave $800 million last year and United States gave $7.4 million last year and Britain just $1.25 million. China is now Sri Lanka’s biggest foreign donor.

China spends billions in Sri lanka to build port | NowPublic News Coverage

This proves that when China says mutual interst, China means it unlike some western countries.