"Crouching Tiger, Swimming Dragon," an op-ed in the April 11 NY Times by Nayan Chanda, former editor of Far Eastern Economic Review, notes with alarm that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao last week signed a deal in Islamabad for construction of a deep-sea facility at Pakistan's Indian Ocean port of Gwadar. Although it is ostensibly to be built for trade, Chanda fears "a permanent Chinese naval presence near the Srait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's oil passes." It all gives the historically astute Chanda an uneasy sense of deja vu.
For a brief time in the 15th century, China had the means, but no
deep-rooted rationale, for overseas expansion. The Middle Kingdom's
maritime glory can be traced to the personal enthusiasm of a single
ruler, the Ming emperor Yongle, who dispatched 63 vessels to the Indian
Ocean in seven waves. China's first and thus far only blue-water navy
consisted of multimasted ships weighing 1,500 tons - Vasco da Gama's
weighed only 300 tons - and carried 27,500 men up to the Gulf and
Africa's eastern shore.
"But the expeditions ended as suddenly as they had begun," Chanda notes, obviously nostalgic for this comforting imperial contraction of yestercentury. "By the time the Portugese Navy appeared in the Indian Ocean in 1497, the Chinese had already gone home."
Now, however, the strategic stakes are higher. "This time, China's thirst for energy is dictating its turn to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Since 1993 China has been a net oil importer; as its need has grown...so has its dependence on oil from the Middle East... Many believe it is only a matter of time before the Chinese Navy, much strangthened by recent purchases of ships and technology, arrives in Gwadar... China should be left in no doubt, however, that using the Gwadar port for its military would increase tensions and weaken the energy security that it ostensibly seeks."
How come nobody ever calls upon the United States (which already has a formidable military presence in Pakistan and several other countries in the region) to emulate the imperial contraction that occured with collapse of the Ming Dynasty?
Just asking.
HHow.But the expeditions ended as suddenly as they had begun, notes. "By the time the Portugese Navy appeared in the Indian Ocean in 1497, the Chinese had already gone home."
This time, China's thirst for energy is dictating its turn to the
Indian Ocean and the Gulf. Since 1993 China has been a net oil
importer; as its need has grown, so has its dependence on oil from the
Middle East. Eighty percent of China's oil imports pass through the
Malacca Straits, the closing of which would wreak havoc upon the
Chinese economy. To reduce this dependence, China has been building
alternative supply routes through Myanmar and Pakistan. 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 $1 billion
in aid and loan guarantees for building at Gwadar.
.
China's search for energy security also dovetails, however, with its
long-term strategic effort to expand its regional influence and box in
India. Analysts see Chinese-operated listening posts in Myanmar's Coco
Islands, China's support for a port near Yangon for handling 10,000-ton
ships (of which the Burmese have only a few) and another deep-water
port at Kyaukpyu in western Myanmar, Chinese aid to the Bangladeshi
port of Chittagong and plans to improve Cambodia's Sihanoukville as
part of an incremental effort to build a "string of pearls" presence on
the Indian Ocean rim.
.
Many believe it is only a matter of time before the Chinese Navy, much
strengthened by recent purchases of ships and technology, arrives in
GwadarBut the expeditions ended as suddenly as they had begun. By the time
the Portuguese Navy appeared in the Indian Ocean in 1497, the Chinese
had already gone home.
.
This time, China's thirst for energy is dictating its turn to the
Indian Ocean and the Gulf. Since 1993 China has been a net oil
importer; as its need has grown, so has its dependence on oil from the
Middle East. Eighty percent of China's oil imports pass through the
Malacca Straits, the closing of which would wreak havoc upon the
Chinese economy. To reduce this dependence, China has been building
alternative supply routes through Myanmar and Pakistan. 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 $1 billion
in aid and loan guarantees for building at Gwadar.
.
China's search for energy security also dovetails, however, with its
long-term strategic effort to expand its regional influence and box in
India. Analysts see Chinese-operated listening posts in Myanmar's Coco
Islands, China's support for a port near Yangon for handling 10,000-ton
ships (of which the Burmese have only a few) and another deep-water
port at Kyaukpyu in western Myanmar, Chinese aid to the Bangladeshi
port of Chittagong and plans to improve Cambodia's Sihanoukville as
part of an incremental effort to build a "string of pearls" presence on
the Indian Ocean rim.
.
Many believe it is only a matter of time before the Chinese Navy, much
strengthened by recent purchases of ships and technology, arrives in
GwadarAside from battling pirates and pretenders to the throne, the fleet
served primarily as a propaganda vehicle for the emperor. Chinese
sailors dazzled Asian states with their technological and military
prowess, transported barbarian envoys and brought home exotic products.
But the expeditions
Bookmark/Search this post with:
22 min 14 sec ago
11 hours 50 min ago
20 hours 41 min ago
1 day 1 hour ago
1 day 2 hours ago
1 day 10 hours ago
1 day 12 hours ago
2 days 14 hours ago
2 days 16 hours ago
3 days 1 hour ago