Foreign Service Updates - China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

India China blocked India’s move in UN against Pakistan re release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi http://www.freepressjournal.in/china-defends-zaki-ur-rehman-lakhvi-stand/ China-Pakistan Economic Corridor  Beijing’s greater strategic plan Airport, roads & railways construction at China control port signed Pakistan infrastructure & energy the focus China to build 6.5-billion nuclear power plant in Karachi oil pipelines planned Planned construction pipeline from Gwadar’s port to northwestern China China + Pakistan =  longtime strategic & diplo co-op China-Pakistan Economic Corridor OIL pipelines to China: *Kazakhstan *Turkmenistan *Pakistan - from Gwadar’s port to nthwest China {pending} src:  http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/china-pakistan-flesh-out-new-economic-corridor/ China–Pakistan Eco. Corridor devel megaproject Gwadar Port Pak to China Xinjiang highways, railways & pipelines - oil +  gas Blockade in war of Straits of Malacca path = 80% of China energy imports China-Pak Eco Corridor creates alternative routes China energy imports:  80% imported energy supplies from Middle East & West Africa. China creating x3 new routes. 3 new energy routes China *Guangzhou to Pak *Shanghai to Uzbekistan, Teheran/Iran & port in Persian Gulf *Beijing thru Russia Potential sea blockade imposed by US if East Asia conflict =  China ways to bypass sea lanes subject to US naval dominance  CPEC-related activities = worth $50.6 billion *China smart - option to chose alternative if Pak doesn't deliver on time CPEC Pakistan faces challenge of maintaining political stability& consensus & assuring security.  ARTICLE + diagram China-Pakistan Economic Corridor  http://tribune.com.pk/story/887949/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-lines-of-development-not-lines-of-divide/ Gwadar port - Pakistan = bankrolled for decade by China = China govt co 2013 manages port India fear of 'string of pearls' China  "string of pearls" = network of China naval bases encircling India from sea =  cramping India maritime aspirations Western Pacific = China is  rising naval challenger facing off vs seagoing hegemon, USA South Asia = China looks to Indian eyes like the seagoing hegemon of the future. CPEC India unease at  Pakistan-China corridor + port / affect on maritime balance of power in Indian Ocean India vulnerability + USA primacy (East Asia) = concern re network of Chinese bases Gwadar site - does have vulnerabilities Gwadar site Pakistan = exposure to missile attack = Gwadar wartime use to China not guaranteed *but very good economically CPEC China - String of Pearls source article:  http://thediplomat.com/2013/02/gwadar-and-the-string-of-pearls/ Pakistan “guns over butter” military over economic Pak has nuclear weapons but yet to achieve a reliable source of energy  [thediplomat] Pakistan economic policy dominated by: desire to maintain a military-industrial complex capable of competing against India but real boosts to Pak economy are:  agriculture, chemicals, textiles & manufactured goods (tradable on global market) [thediplomat] Pakistan = access to Indian Ocean = good access to markets, East & West = interl reach> diaspora = 3rd largest English-speaking pop in world Pak *failure w/in political sphere to respond to Taliban + reactionaries *rampant inflation *serious lack of currency reserves http://thediplomat.com/2014/02/the-pakistan-china-corridor --------------------- COMMENT Found this very interesting.  Very good articles.