Continuing with the China story to show as to how it's trying to encircle India for a future show off, perhaps! The argument, on the flip side, would be that it has nothing towards its north that's worth conquering!!
An article in mid '14 had revealed Chinese plans to build 18 bases in the IOR termed, "Overseas Strategic Support Bases". It mentioned three specific categories:-
* Peacetime fueling and material supply like Djibouti, Aden and Salalah.
* Fixed supply bases for warship berthing, fixed-wing reconnoissance aircraft and the naval
staff ashore rest like Seychelles.
* Fully functional centers for replenishment, rest and large warship weapon maintenance like
Gwadar in Pakistan.
Another article in Nov '14, quoting Sri Lankan sources, talked of the following Chinese bases in the
making:-
* Hambantota(Sri Lanka)
* Naval bases in Pakistan, Myanmar
* Naval supply base at Walvis Bay in Namibia
* 18 - 19 overseas strategic supply bases in Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania,
Mozambique, Seychelles, Madagascar and other ports of the IOR for supplying, berthing and
maintenance bases - very different from US types of bases, without specifying the difference!
An Interesting Diary of Events.
* Sri Lanka's Hambantota port was officially leased to China for 99 years since Sri Lanka had to
service the debt on the loan it took from the Exim Bank, China to build the port(Jul '17).
* China commissioned its first overseas naval base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. China's
agreement with Djibouti ensures Chinese presence there till 2026 with a contingent strength of
up to 10,000. The period can be extended and troops strength can be increased subject to the
prevailing situation(Aug '17).
* Gwadar port in Pakistan was handed over to China for 49 years which gives China immense
strategic advantage because of its proximity to the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
* China had already indicated plans to increase its marine corps from 20,000 to 1,00,000 for
overseas deployment including at Gwadar and Djibouti(Mar '17).
* China has engaged in ports development in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
* Its economic ties with Africa and the related rise in its naval profile across the IOR has been
conspicuous.
* The magnitude of its investments in Sri Lanka(Colombo and Hambantota) is quite high and
China is aware of the economy of the country and also that payback would be aimed to be
retrieved in strategic terms. China's nuclear submarines and warships do not dock at the docks of
Sri Lanka Port Authority(SLPA) in Colombo, mandated to accommodate military vessels but
instead at the Colombo South Container Terminal(CSCT), a deep water facility built, controlled
and run by China through an aid project. CSCT is a Chinese enclave within a Sri Lanka
administered harbour, the berthing itself a violation of protocol.
* Similarly, in Maldives, China's Integrated Development Project rides on huge concessional loans
and financing; they are on such high rate of interest that Male will default unless given a waiver.
So the waiver will come with a strategic price - the Chinese control over maintenance projects
(As was the case in Sri Lanka) including its establishment of a naval presence.
* In Jul '17, the Chinese unveiled a massive ship described as "magic island maker" named Tian
Kin Hao which is capable of digging 6,000 cubic meters per hour equivalent of three standard
swimming pools. That this would be used in the Indian Ocean is obvious with China having met
most of its plans in the South China Sea!
Tailpiece.
Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Mohanachandran has been, finally, shifted out of the ICU into a room". From K Vipinachandran.
Phew! it was high time that it happened. I'm sure his progress will be in leaps and bounds from now on!
An article in mid '14 had revealed Chinese plans to build 18 bases in the IOR termed, "Overseas Strategic Support Bases". It mentioned three specific categories:-
* Peacetime fueling and material supply like Djibouti, Aden and Salalah.
* Fixed supply bases for warship berthing, fixed-wing reconnoissance aircraft and the naval
staff ashore rest like Seychelles.
* Fully functional centers for replenishment, rest and large warship weapon maintenance like
Gwadar in Pakistan.
Another article in Nov '14, quoting Sri Lankan sources, talked of the following Chinese bases in the
making:-
* Hambantota(Sri Lanka)
* Naval bases in Pakistan, Myanmar
* Naval supply base at Walvis Bay in Namibia
* 18 - 19 overseas strategic supply bases in Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania,
Mozambique, Seychelles, Madagascar and other ports of the IOR for supplying, berthing and
maintenance bases - very different from US types of bases, without specifying the difference!
An Interesting Diary of Events.
* Sri Lanka's Hambantota port was officially leased to China for 99 years since Sri Lanka had to
service the debt on the loan it took from the Exim Bank, China to build the port(Jul '17).
* China commissioned its first overseas naval base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. China's
agreement with Djibouti ensures Chinese presence there till 2026 with a contingent strength of
up to 10,000. The period can be extended and troops strength can be increased subject to the
prevailing situation(Aug '17).
* Gwadar port in Pakistan was handed over to China for 49 years which gives China immense
strategic advantage because of its proximity to the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
* China had already indicated plans to increase its marine corps from 20,000 to 1,00,000 for
overseas deployment including at Gwadar and Djibouti(Mar '17).
* China has engaged in ports development in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
* Its economic ties with Africa and the related rise in its naval profile across the IOR has been
conspicuous.
* The magnitude of its investments in Sri Lanka(Colombo and Hambantota) is quite high and
China is aware of the economy of the country and also that payback would be aimed to be
retrieved in strategic terms. China's nuclear submarines and warships do not dock at the docks of
Sri Lanka Port Authority(SLPA) in Colombo, mandated to accommodate military vessels but
instead at the Colombo South Container Terminal(CSCT), a deep water facility built, controlled
and run by China through an aid project. CSCT is a Chinese enclave within a Sri Lanka
administered harbour, the berthing itself a violation of protocol.
* Similarly, in Maldives, China's Integrated Development Project rides on huge concessional loans
and financing; they are on such high rate of interest that Male will default unless given a waiver.
So the waiver will come with a strategic price - the Chinese control over maintenance projects
(As was the case in Sri Lanka) including its establishment of a naval presence.
* In Jul '17, the Chinese unveiled a massive ship described as "magic island maker" named Tian
Kin Hao which is capable of digging 6,000 cubic meters per hour equivalent of three standard
swimming pools. That this would be used in the Indian Ocean is obvious with China having met
most of its plans in the South China Sea!
Tailpiece.
Mohanachandran's medical bulletin.
"Mohanachandran has been, finally, shifted out of the ICU into a room". From K Vipinachandran.
Phew! it was high time that it happened. I'm sure his progress will be in leaps and bounds from now on!
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