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Friendly but out of loop: China unaware of Gwadar proposal
Foreign ministry spokesperson says no such proposal discussed during PM’s recent visit.
China Foreign Office says it had not heard of Pakistan's proposal for China to help it build a naval port at Gwadar. PHOTO: AFP
BEIJING:
China said on Tuesday it had not heard of Pakistan’s proposal for Beijing to help it build a naval base, pouring cold water on a plan that would likely stoke regional jitters about the two countries’ relationship.
Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said on Saturday that his government wanted China to build it a naval base at the deep water port of Gwadar, in the latest sign of moves to bolster ties with Beijing after strains with Washington over the US operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited China last week, and both sides vowed to maitain their “all-weather friendship”, which many analysts see as a shared hedge against US and Indian influence.
But on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said she had no knowledge beforehand of the naval port proposal and it had not been discussed during Gilani’s visit.
“China and Pakistan are friendly neighbours. Regarding the specific China-Pakistan cooperative project that you raised, I have not heard of it,” Jiang told a regular news conference in Beijing. “It’s my understanding that during the visit last week this issue was not touched upon,” she added later.
“For a long time China has done its utmost to provide help to Pakistan and we hope this can help improve the livelihood of the Pakistani people and promote economic and social development, and we will continue doing this,” she said.
Analysts say Mukhtar’s statement seemed to be aimed at showing the United States that Pakistan had a diplomatic alternative in its old ally Beijing if its ties with Washington faltered.
“The target audience of this statement was the US,” said Kamran Bokhari, Middle East and South Asia director for global intelligence firm Stratfor.
“The statement served the purpose to tell the United States that it has other options as well. (But) Americans know the Pakistanis are unhappy right now and they are posturing.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2011.
Reader Comments (34)
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In the end the Americans will end up using the base!!!Recommend
Earlier this week, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said that China has agreed to take control of operations at the Gwadar Port.
Is it a case of
A. The right hand not knowing what the left hand does. OR
B. A race to show which minister has better access the Chinese.Recommend
I think we better handover the not just the Gwadar Port, but the army & ISI to the Chinese. Let them take care of the problems of Militancy, Americans, Indians etc.
All of our problems will become theirs. In return, we should ask for free Visas to all pakistani
s to china (like shenzen visas).What do you say, guys?Recommend
Ahmed Mukhtar might be joking with Pakistanis…Recommend
it is to be noted also, that USA has already planned to use this port for NATO supply in recent future, it is well known fact running in the real-estate bussiness circle of Gawadar.Recommend
I see connection between: Pakistan’s statement of Chinese Agreement – Attack on Naval Base – and now the denial.
“akalmand k liay ishara he kafi hai”Recommend
We will talk about this in some 36 years, lets focus on other issues that are pending.Recommend
hillarious, thanks Ahmad Mukhtar for the laugh in such a trying time. Although Naval Chief Nauman Bashir got more points due to his comic press conference. Recommend
What to say of our Defense minister Mr Ahmed Mukhtar he is clueless to what is happening .You can see that from his attitude and performance .What an embarrassment that after Mr Mukhtar statement Chinese foreign office has to issue this statement .Embarrassing Embarrassing EmbarrassingRecommend
China doesnt sign blank cheques. Recommend
@VGM:
Very true…. Our overtures towards China is like a guy flirting with a beautiful girl trying to gain more attention of his girl friend…Recommend
If Musharraf had given over management and control of the Gawadar Port to PSA for 40 years then any talk of handing over of the Port to any third party is futile unless PSA agrees to it. This Government is all about slogans. Whatever the problem or the issue they have a catchy slogan for it but when it comes to deliverence they fail miserablyRecommend
So who is telling lies here!! Not the Chinese, for sure!!!!Recommend
Pakistan should close every single door to Americans and rely on its resources. Without any doubt our nation if led by sincere country men can put Pakistan on the right track. Rightnow, agents of RAW, MI6, CIA, MOSSAD, Black Water working on their evil plans and common man is worried to make both ends meet.Recommend
This clearly shows the political immaturity of our Defence Minister.
He should stick to doing what he is good at – making shoes. Recommend
Shameful. Once China controls Pakistan, they will subjugate its people like they oppress the Uighers in Xinjiang.Recommend
Can Galani-Zardari annoy their American-drones masters?Such statements or for political and public consumptions.Recommend
I trust China’s word over this Pakistani government/military words any day. Thank you China for supporting Pakistan and sorry in behalf of our government/military who do not know how to give true statements.Recommend
Don’t you have to ask the Baloch if they want the Chinese to run Gwadar??Recommend
@Ahsan:
The common man should be smart enough to know that its their Rulers who are making life difficult for them, rather than continued Blame Others Games!!!
Time people of Pakistan acknowledge the fact that its their own people in power who have made Policy mistakes which have affected the common man!!!!Recommend
port or no port control or no control success depends on the access to it. I presume only project linking the port to faisalbad was discussed.Recommend
You too China?????? Entire World is trying to exploit us. Atleast you support us if you are true.Recommend
Pervez
kudos. I fully agree with you, a cobbler should remain a cobbler and not try to be statesman. This leadership is a curse on this nation and every single leader/politician associated with them is equally worse.Recommend
News for everybody
Our minister left for USA with his wife on private visit after making this statement. Recommend
This is just Great! I really loved it :)Recommend
@Karim:
But Chinese are killing muslims like goats r killed on eidRecommend
@Abdullah: They are killing Turkish Muslims who challenges sovereignity of their Country. We are respecting their sovereignity and of course they will dare to kill us.Recommend
Gwadar is like a ghareeb dee sohni thee ( beautiful daughter of a poor) whose beauty attracts alot of ghundas and he is unable to save her from their clutches…Recommend
What is going on
Ahmed Mukhtar’s needs to clarify his statement. If he fibbed, he should know that Chinese do not like to be used.It is a no no
Or did the Chinese get angry at CM of Baluchistan getting un-happy with the potential arrangement.
In either case the people of Pakistan are loosers. What a mess we get into. Walking with our eyes wide shutRecommend
Not a bad idea at all. Give the entire management of this country to China. They will take care of terrorists, USA, UK, India, Israel, Saudis and UAE.
What a slap on our faces when the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokewoman says she has not heard of Gwadar Port Authority management to the Chinese government. So the whole GOP is a damned liar. Only WikiLeaks will blast out the truth and expose the satanic back-door crafty schemes, intrigues and shenanigans that are going on to break this country or grab our nuclear assets and subsequently everybody knows the end result. What a fiasco this nation is becoming and all thanx to servile and pliable rulers of the past and present. My Salams for a better and sensible leadership and Pakistan.Recommend
@Siraj Ahsan:
wrong this is like a used and discarded and violated woman begging hard to accepted by another (different) man …Recommend
Shame on this Defence Minister who has the audacity to tell lies in such sensitive matters.Recommend
Well the government/military even lies about its own Pakistani people so I am not surprised that they are lieing about China also. Pakistan doesn’t deserve a friend like China.Recommend
Offer Russia use of the Gwadar Port in return for nuclear reactor technology and official status as a nuclear weapon state.
Russia wants a “warm water port” – that was the entire point of the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
That will really screw the Americans and put the Chinese on notice to stop playing games.
Pakistan is about LOCATION – every major power wants to be friends with Pakistan.
Pakistan is the Gateway to the the energy supplies in Central Asia and the minerals and metals in the mountains of Pakistan & Afghanistan. However, Pakistan is also the critical transportation corridor.Recommend