China to Build Second Foreign Naval Base, This Time in Pakistan | World Defense

China to Build Second Foreign Naval Base, This Time in Pakistan

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China to Build Second Foreign Naval Base, This Time in Pakistan
05.Jan.2018

China is planning to build its second foreign naval base in Pakistan following the ribbon cutting ceremony for its first overseas base in Djibouti last July.

Sources close to the People's Liberation Army have confirmed to the South China Morning Post that a Chinese naval port is being built at a strategic location on Pakistan's southern coast.

"China needs to set up another base in Gwadar for its warships because Gwadar is now a civilian port," Zhou Chenming, a Chinese military analyst, told the South China Morning Post on Friday. "Gwadar port can't provide specific services for warships," Zhou said; hence the need for a new base.

Gwadar is less than 50 miles east of the Pakistan-Iran border and sits in Balochistan Province, where fiercely independent Baloch nationalists have waged guerrilla wars against both the Pakistani and Iranian governments. "Public order there is a mess," Zhou said.

"China and Pakistan have found common ground in terms of maritime interest in the region," Pakistani analyst Sheikh Fahad says. "Gwadar port can be used for joint naval patrols in the Indian Ocean, further increasing the naval outreach of China and Pakistan in the region. Gwadar port will increase the countries' naval movements and further expand defense cooperation, especially in the naval field," Fahad noted.

In mid-December, Lawrence Sellin, a retired US Army Reserve colonel, reported for the Daily Caller that high-ranking Chinese and Pakistani officials had met in Beijing to discuss future projects.

Last June, a Pakistani diplomat said China's help was needed as an "equalizer," pointing to the naval base as all-but-inevitable. "Previously it was the US and Saudi Arabia… Now it's China," the diplomat told NBC. A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman later dismissed the report as "pure guesswork," but now it seems the port will, in fact, be built.

Experts have noted that India is keeping a close eye on the development of China-Pakistan relations. "China finds it very useful to use Pakistan against India and ignore India's concerns, particularly on terrorism issues. That has created a lot of stress in the relationship between Beijing and Delhi," Rajeev Ranan Chaturvedy, a researcher at the National University of Singapore, told SCMP.

But "Indian naval capabilities and experience in the Indian Ocean region are fairly good – much better than Pakistan and China," Chaturvedy said.

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201801051060541891-china-second-foreign-base-pakistan/
 

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Pakistan China to hold joint naval drills in Indian Ocean regularly: sources

06 Jan, 2018


ISLAMABAD - Pakistani and Chinese navy would hold joint exercises from time to time to help meet the challenges. Moreover, the frigates and warships of the Chinese Navy would keep visiting Pakistan’s coastal areas. Moreover, joint security drills may also be considered,” Pakistan today has reported quoting sources from the Foreign Office.

Asked whether these drills would be held at Gwadar port, the official said that Pakistan wanted to dedicate the strategic port only for commercial trade.

“We would like to dedicate Gwadar port for commercial purposes. However, for effective security, we have developed a small naval base at the port, while some personnel from military, FC and Rangers have also been stationed for security purposes,” the source said.

The source said that Pakistan Navy would be using Jinnah Naval Base for all sorts of naval cooperation, and whether it is strategic or conventional weaponry, all exercises and skill building cooperation would be conducted at Ormara base.


“Moreover, we are also looking for possibilities to develop naval bases at Pasni, Jewani or any other suitable place at the coastal line. However, let me assure you that China is not interested in building its naval base at Pakistan’s coastal line. It is not in their DNA to build bases outside China,” the official asserted.

Responding to another question, the official also refuted the propaganda that China would be the major beneficiary of the CPEC as compared to Pakistan.

“Let me assure you that CPEC is not the lifeline for China as is being projected. CPEC is not the only option available to China, as there are seven other corridors being worked out by Beijing. There are six corridors under Belt & Road Initiative (BRI),” the official said.

Separately, the source added, China has also operationalised China-Eurasia and China-Iran corridors.

“Last year, over 3,000 cargo trains shuttled between China and Europe—a fact which speaks volumes about China’s outreach. Moreover, China also operationalised its train route to Iran, which went unnoticed. So Pakistan is not the only option for China. But yes, CPEC is the best option China has,” the official said.

Asked to elaborate, the official said that China had launched its efforts to develop an ambitious corridor with establishing a road link with Myanmar, India and Bangladesh (BCIM) back in 1998, but India became a major hurdle in the operationalisation of this trade route.

“There is a road already linking Myanmar with India, and only a small portion needs to be widened and redeveloped. Moreover, the militants in North India and Myanmar would have to be dealt with. China has already developed a road link with Myanmar, while India also has a road link with Bangladesh. So it is only about linking the already available roads. But India is the biggest hurdle as Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and former premier Manmohan Singh never allowed BCIM to take off,” the official said.

The official said that soon after launching the BRI, China has convened the first meeting of the BCIMEC joint working group in Kunming, and a joint study plan was signed by all parties, leading to the establishment of a mechanism for cooperation among the four governments.

“But despite the lapse of five years, there is no development,” the official said.

On the other hand, CPEC is a great opportunity for Pakistan, under which, apart from power and infrastructure projects, nine industrial zones would be constructed across all regions of Pakistan, which will greatly boost country’s economy and create employment opportunities.

https://timesofislamabad.com/06-Jan...aval-drills-in-indian-ocean-regularly-sources
 

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@Indus Falcon @Tps77 @Arslan Today I recvd info that China has started construction of a Naval base in Jiwani. Any details?
No news yet but an article in Washington times
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/3/china-plans-pakistan-military-base-at-jiwani/
China is constructing its second overseas military base in Pakistan as part of a push for greater power projection capabilities along strategic sea routes.
The facility will be built at Jiwani, a port close to the Iranian border on the Gulf of Oman, according to two people familiar with deal.
Plans call for the Jiwani base to be a joint naval and air facility for Chinese forces, located a short distance up the coast from the Chinese-built commercial port facility at Gwadar, Pakistan. Both Gwadar and Jiwani are part of Pakistan’s western Baluchistan province.
Plans for the base were advanced during a visit to Jiwani on Dec. 18 by a group of 16 Chinese People’s Liberation Army officers who met with about 10 Pakistani military officers. Jiwani is located on a peninsula about 15 miles long on a stretch of land with one small airfield.
According to sources, the large naval and air base will require the Pakistani government to relocate scores of residents living in the area. Plans call for their relocation to other areas of Jiwani or further inland in Baluchistan province.
 

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Chinese Naval Base at Gwadar: China's Foreign Office official response
09 Jan, 2018

BEIJING, Jan 9 (APP):While refuting a media report that China was allegedly building a military base in Pakistan, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday suggested that it was not necessary for the outside world to make too much guesses in this regard.

“I am not aware of which you mentioned,” Lu Kang said while responding to a question about alleged building of a Chinese military base in Pakistan, during his regular press briefing held here.

He said that building of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and both China and Pakistan were also making efforts to build the CPEC which was in the common interest of people and the countries along the route.

“So, I don’t think it is necessary for outside world to make too much guesses in this regard,” he added. The spokesperson of Pakistan’s Foreign Office had already rejected such a report saying that there was no proposal of building any Chinese Military base near Gwadar.

“This is all propaganda against the development of CPEC and strengthening of relations between Pakistan and China,” he added.

https://timesofislamabad.com/09-Jan...adar-china-s-foreign-office-official-response
 
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