I'd like to add to and expand the Chinese thread by posting a recent
article
on that country's geopolitical position from the excellent Jane's
Online.
Should be of interest to those that have followed the discussion:
(you'll need to register to get to the article and if you want the full
version you'll need to subscribe)
The China-Pakistan alliance
Despite differing political, economic, ideological and social systems,
Pakistan and China have developed enduring strategic ties since their
relationship was first established 50 years ago.
Besides political and diplomatic co-operation, the two countries are
extensively involved in wide-ranging defence co-operation, particularly
in
the controversial area of nuclear weapons and missile technology.
The present period of shifting regional and global balances of power has
provided the two countries with greater opportunities to strengthen
their
alliance than ever before. Now intelligence reports indicate that secret
talks on nuclear development are currently underway.
It is against this background of growing convergence of their interests
that
the recent visit to Islamabad of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji must be
viewed.
The following developments are worth noting:
1. Sharing the Chinese vision of a multi-polar world, Pakistan's
military
chief executive, General Pervez Musharraf, expressed his opposition to
the
regional dominance of India and global influence of the USA and called
instead for a greater Chinese role in international affairs. By
rejecting
the US National Missile Defence (NMD) programme in the presence of the
Chinese leader, he has made clear Islamabad's strategic support for
Beijing
- which is also opposed to the US' plans.
2. General Musharraf also unequivocally expressed the view that "the
Pakistani people hope and pray that Taiwan will reunify with the
mainland of
the motherland before long".
3. In return, commenting on Pakistan's internal affairs, Premier Zhu
Rongji
praised Musharraf for promoting stability and economic development, thus
-
albeit indirectly - endorsing his military regime.
4. The visiting Chinese leader also offered Beijing's support for
Islamabad's position on the Kashmir issue.
5. In addition to signing many economic agreements (along with $250
million
worth of credit), Beijing has also extended assistance in developing
Pakistan's nuclear power infrastructure and other core industrial
sectors.
Rongji further announced that Pakistani imports would be given priority
in
order to remove the trade imbalance between the two countries.
6. Even more importantly, the two countries signed agreements construct
jointly the deep-sea Gwadar Port on the Makran Coast in Baluchistan.
(340 of 876 words)
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Oct 12 2001 - 14:39:41 MDT