Chinese Naval Base at Gwadar: China's Foreign Office official response

[Abu Zarrar]

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.

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

 

[Han Patriot]

China does not have any base anywhere. It's jus a logistics center run by Pakistan.

 

[Unite & Defend]

China really should build a base in Pakistan. Bring your culture, mass peoples, and ways of doing things over with you while you're at it. China is a proven partner and a win-win scenario would be achieved with this outcome.

 

[The Diplomat]

China really should build a base in Pakistan. Bring your culture, mass peoples, and ways of doing things over with you while you're at it. China is a proven partner and a win-win scenario would be achieved with this outcome.

No foreign military base should be allowed in Pakistan, no matter which country it is. What win-win situation will a Chinese base bring for Pakistan, if anything it’s a breach of sovereignty by our own government for letting such a base of a foreign nation in Pakistan.

 

[MastanKhan]

No foreign military base should be allowed in Pakistan, no matter which country it is. What win-win situation will a Chinese base bring for Pakistan, if anything it’s a breach of sovereignty by our own government for letting such a base of a foreign nation in Pakistan.

Hi,

What " sovereignty " are you talking about?

 

[The Diplomat]

Hi,

What " sovereignty " are you talking about?

Hi,

Well the definition of sovereignty is the authority of a state to govern itself. In this instance I mean if a foreign military constructs a base in an area (anywhere in Pakistan) then that military will likely not be binding to follow the laws of Pakistan but will likely follow the laws of their own land.

Pakistan has a standing government which is in control of the land, by letting the Chinese build a base in Gwadar then that piece of land will no longer be governed by Pakistan.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

What " sovereignty " are you talking about?

Full on Pakistani style sovereignty -

• Right to starve.
• Right to hunger.
• Right to no or terrible health care
• Right to no or terrible education
• Right to no or terrible justice
• Right to live in filthy towns/cities
• Right to live in chaos
• Right to be ruled by corrupt mafia class
• Right to run abroad to UK dash the West to escape all of the above [Hint]

 

[The Diplomat]

Full on Pakistani style sovereignty -

• Right to starve.
• Right to hunger.
• Right to no or terrible health care
• Right to no or terrible education
• Right to no or terrible justice
• Right to live in filthy towns/cities
• Right to live in chaos
• Right to be ruled by corrupt mafia class
• Right to run abroad to UK dash the West to escape all of the above [Hint]

With all the respect CPEC should have limits. Giving a Naval Base to China will not improve your healthcare, education or justice system... I also disagree with filthy city; forget about Sindh government, the rest of Pakistan is a pleasure to visit.

As for running to the UK, don’t forget to mention that you pay 40 per cent tax here, you will earn more by staying in Pakistan these days. Don’t forget the life style in Pakistan; driver, gardener and maid. People have abused CPEC for way too long and this propaganda needs to stop.

Yes CPEC is one of the best things in Pakistan right now but what will you get from a Chinese base in Pakistan. It’s selling your self.

 

[xyxmt]

why would China want a military base in Pakistan, its not like Pakistan has a very weak military...naval base is more likely.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Giving a Naval Base to China will not improve your healthcare, education or justice system

I neve said it would. My riposte was to the oft repeated mirage called "sovereighty" ~ a quality that is non extent at the bottom or the top. Electd elite and military officials are beholden to second tier slaves of American like the Saudi's. One call from Riyadh will see Nawaz or his brother Shebaz scurrying to their pleasure.

Sovereighty does not get denuded if state enters into a agreement to station another friendly military for mutual strategic reasons. This sort of thinking is a legacy of colonial legacy. UK had/has as you will know huge US military bases. Turkey hosts huge NATO military bases. So does Japan. So does South Korea. Although Somalia, Bangladesh do not. Point being there is little to no correlation between sovereignty had hosting bases.

 

[Mamluk]

No foreign military base should be allowed in Pakistan, no matter which country it is. What win-win situation will a Chinese base bring for Pakistan, if anything it’s a breach of sovereignty by our own government for letting such a base of a foreign nation in Pakistan.

Don't be so ideological. I know it feels great to say things like "won't do X no matter what!" but I suggest back that up with some pragmatic reasoning.

Exactly how is it a breach of sovereignty? What about NATO bases in Turkey? Has Turkey lost sovereignty?

 

[FuturePAF]

A formal naval base is not necessary. If China supplies Pakistan with the same equipment it plans to operate in the North Arabian Sea, Pakistan would have the infrastructure in place such as Type 054A maintenance facilities; and docks to allow limited maintenance of larger vessels; it can support Chinese task forces protecting their SLOCs. This would be akin to Hong Kong or a Singapore. Not a formal navy base; but a friendly harbor with support facilities.

The local Airport could easily be built up to be a civilian cargo hub; upon which logistics for friendly units could operate from on a limited basis. Sharing Pakistan Army bases with friendly nations for a limited period should also be no problem. This "Surge" capability at Air/Naval/ and Army installations are what allow fast reinforcements in times of crisis. A PLAN Destroyer and Support Ship at Djibouti, a couple Type 054As at Gwadar, and a Submarine enroute to the Arabian Sea for a training mission can easily be turned into a task force. A squadron of Su-35s deployed to gwadar on an emergency basis really change the dynamic along side that task force.

Its called Inter-Operability. Coalition building capacity. Similar measures with dozens of counties and china has the ability to form its own "Block". Pakistan would only be the first; something similar can be done with other nations. For example; The Phillipines, low on cash can lease out the former Clark Air Force base to China in a similar manner; light footprint, and focused on protecting its core national interests and trade.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Well the definition of sovereignty is the authority of a state to govern itself. In this instance I mean if a foreign military constructs a base in an area (anywhere in Pakistan) then that military will likely not be binding to follow the laws of Pakistan but will likely follow the laws of their own land.

Pakistan has a standing government which is in control of the land, by letting the Chinese build a base in Gwadar then that piece of land will no longer be governed by Pakistan.

Hi,

US has bases in UK---is britain not sovereign---how about germany and Japan and so korea---Turkey---Poland etc etc etc.

Please use your comments in reference to the rest of the world---.

And not on WHAT YOU THINK.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

What about NATO bases in Turkey? Has Turkey lost sovereignty?

Erdogan is a tiger compared to Nawaz, Shebaz who are leashed mutts. but look at NATO bases in Turkey.

 

[Cybernetics]

Over recent years there's been a dramatic shift in China's defence strategy (it's still defensive). It will seek to keep conflict far from its shores due to the build up of industry along its coasts and major cities. The change in defence strategy is quite clear to anyone living in China or read Chinese military literature. Interests are no longer just in China but also overseas and those interests will be protected by the Chinese military. This doesn't mean invading other nations, regime change or engage in "nation building", China doesn't have interest in those activities and it's impractical. There was a period of time where China had overseas assets but inability to protect them (still true today), thus losing billions in countries like Libya. Whether this will translate into "bases" in other countries is up to interpretation, circumstance, and relation with specific countries.

Whether China builds a naval or any other kind of base in Pakistan will be determined by the relation these two countries have. The rationale behind building a base isn't because Pakistan needs protecting by China but its a move to power project and link up the defence network (ie. Djibouti) from Africa to the Persian Gulf. If China is allowed to build and proceeds with the base in Pakistan then that signifies Sino-Pakistan geo-strategic relations will be for the long term, largely determined by geography. If China doesn't have long term cooperation with Pakistan then its supply lines will be much longer and more vulnerable to disruption, necessitating spreading of forces in the Indian Ocean and South East Asia or an even greater military buildup.

Recent overseas evacuations brought forth a renewed acknowledgement of the importance of a forward deployed force.

China downsized its overall military manpower by 300,000 recently while increasing the number of marines from 20,000 to 100,000, increased personnel in Navy, special forces, Rocket Force, and Strategic Support Force and downsized the army. This means the army was downsized by more than 300,000, current numbers are below 1 million. It seems like the trend is for China to forward deploy some of its military assets overseas and transition its military into a more mobile force.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/dipl...ns-expand-china-plans-400pc-increase#comments

Protection of the homelands within the borders used to be the role of the PLA(army) and other departments but is transitioning to mainly Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force, and Ministry of Public Security. Navy, special forces, and marines are going to be forward deployed to increase China's strategic depth and be closer to overseas interests.

When it comes to sovereignty, no country has total sovereignty in practice, though anyone can proclaim it. Not even China or USA has total sovereignty. By definition sovereignty means supreme authority. Even within China the Chinese government doesn't have "supreme authority", yes it is the highest governing body but it is influenced to varying degrees by foreign interests, direct or indirect actions of other countries/world events (Fed interest rates affect China's moves), its own citizens's interests, corporate interests, and other groups. If China wanted absolute sovereignty I doubt it would have developed into the country it is today. In practice there is only a gradient of sovereignty and its unevenly distributed, to be an effective country one balances forces to maximise interest.