Pakistan says wants China to build naval base

[mkiyani]

Pakistan says wants China to build naval base

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD | Sun May 22, 2011 8:51am IST

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Saturday it wanted China to build it a naval base, in the latest sign of moves to strengthen ties with Beijing as relations with Washington falter.

The announcement from Pakistan's defence minister came a day after Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani returned from a four-day visit to China, Islamabad's biggest arms supplier.

"We would be ... grateful to the Chinese government if a naval base is ... constructed at the site of Gwadar for Pakistan," Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said is a statement, referring to a deep-water port in Pakistan's southwest.

The statement did not say whether Pakistan had asked China to build the base at the port in Baluchistan province.

Islamabad is trying to deepen ties with Beijing as relations with the United States have come under strain following the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan this month.

Many in Washington have called for a review of billions of dollars of U.S. aid to Pakistan after discovering bin Laden had been hiding for years in a Pakistani garrison town.

China invested $200 million in the first phase of the construction of the port, which was inaugurated in 2007.

The development, 70 km (45 miles) east of the Iranian border and on the doorstep of Gulf shipping lanes, was designed to handle transhipment traffic for the Gulf.

Mukhtar said the Chinese government had agreed to take operational control of Gwadar port once a contract with Singapore's PSA International Ltd expired in around 35 years' time.

During Gilani's visit, Mukhtar said China had agreed to speed up the delivery of 50 multi-role combat JF-17 "Thunder" aircraft, each worth up to $25 million.

The close ties between China and Pakistan reflect long-standing shared wariness of their common neighbour India and a desire to hedge against U.S. influence across the region.

(Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Pakistan says wants China to build naval base | Reuters

 

[mkiyani]

I hope they will allow chines naval base too....

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Pakistan Zindabad!!!

Thank our Pak brothers to strategically provide us the support, the interests for China would be the interests for Pakistan.

 

[atlantis_cn]

Pakistan Zindabad!!!

Thank our Pak brothers to strategically provide us the support, the interests for China would be the interests for Pakistan.

Don't get it wrong. Pakistan wants China to build a naval base for Pakistan herself.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Don't get it wrong. Pakistan wants China to build a naval base for Pakistan herself.

Lol @ your signature, nothing else to say.

 

[nForce]

Pakistan Zindabad!!!

Thank our Pak brothers to strategically provide us the support, the interests for China would be the interests for Pakistan.

"We would be ... grateful to the Chinese government if a naval base is ... constructed at the site of Gwadar for Pakistan," Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said is a statement, referring to a deep-water port in Pakistan's southwest.

Actually the Pakistani PM is asking China to build them a naval base....

 

[mkiyani]

Don't get it wrong. Pakistan wants China to build a naval base for Pakistan herself.

But you never know... if Chines build the port they might station 4 or 5 ships there to protect their interests... I think china should request pakistan for naval base..

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

Actually the Pakistani PM is asking China to build them a naval base....

It is still nothing compared to our friendship.

And don't feel jealous India.

 

[DarK-LorD]

First Pakistan sold it's Sovereignty to US now it is selling it to China.

 

[atlantis_cn]

But you never know... if Chines build the port they might station 4 or 5 ships there to protect their interests... I think china should request pakistan for naval base..

China will never try to establish any kind of naval base abroad in the foreseeable future. It's a long maintained foreign policy by China, and in my opinion, a wise one.

 

[Omar1984]

It'll be good for Pakistan if China builds a naval base in Pakistan. China recently said that an attack on Pakistan is like an attack on Beijing. China invested billions of dollars in projects all across Pakistan, especially in Gwadar Port so China would want to protect its investments in Pakistan.

This way China and Pakistan can jointly cooperate to protect their mutual interests in the region.

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

It'll be good for Pakistan if China builds a naval base in Pakistan. China recently said that an attack on Pakistan is like an attack on Beijing. China invested billions of dollars in projects all across Pakistan, especially in Gwadar Port so China would want to protect its investments in Pakistan.

This way China and Pakistan can jointly cooperate to protect their mutual interests in the region.

This means China has considered the stability in Pakistan as its core interest.

 

[airuah]

why does Pakistan want every country to have a base there?......next India should have one lol---see you can be sure then since we wont attack our own base....lol

 

[SEAL]

Don't get it wrong. Pakistan wants China to build a naval base for Pakistan herself.

PN is very small in size they don't need another naval base, Chinese Navy will be there. Gawadar is very important and strategic location naval base there is in our best interests.
Look at Chinese sea communication line they are not secure and in case of conflict India can easily block Chinese containers.

 

[muse]

Well, I would suggest our Chinese brothers be very, very careful when it comes to Pakistani politicians -- Pakistani politics is all about "rent collecting" - it's a bit like old style mafia -- Chinese allies will have noted that the Chief Minister of the province of Balochistan has objected because he wants to be made the director of port development, which means he will collect the bribes for any kind of business and development -- and then the thieves that the politicians are, they will not hesitate from doing business with guns and bombs --- unless there is a guarantee of some sorts that will allow for the protection of investments and personnel, it's not really worth it -- Today, there is news about wanting China to build a naval base - but this looks suspiciously like a message to the US (read, give us more $$ or the Chinese will do x or y or z -- With Pakistan, the secret is trade, that way both sides win.