China: Decoding 'String of Pearls'

[LETHALFORCE]

If China can't do anything in Taiwan which is a stone's throw away, this string of pearls is a pipe dream.

 

[Suryakiran]

If China can't do anything in Taiwan which is a stone's throw away, this string of pearls is a pipe dream.

China is not doing anything in Taiwan's case because of the strong presence of USA. But, India/Vietnam or any other countries in the IOR region does not have any such strong backing from the big power to deter China.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

China is not doing anything in Taiwan's case because of the strong presence of USA. But, India/Vietnam or any other countries in the IOR region does not have any such strong backing from the big power to deter China.

Does China have a supply chain capability to carry out naval operations thousands of miles away and sustain them????

 

[civfanatic]

Does China have a supply chain capability to carry out naval operations thousands of miles away and sustain them????

No. Right now the "String of Pearls" has absolutely no military application for China. It is just for securing their energy supplies and trade.

In the event of hostilities the IN can blockade the Malacca Straits fairly easily, and the PLAN won't be able to do much about it.

 

[amoy]

I'd recommend India initiate a "Marshal Plan" of her own to aid those countries on the string (incl. FTA). Those countries being made more attached to India economicaly and militarily they'll certainly have to orbit around India against China's encirclement conspiracy. Of course it's quite costly but in the long run worthwhile for India's dominion over S. Asia.

And Myanmar is the most shining pearl!

 

[kch]

Does China have a supply chain capability to carry out naval operations thousands of miles away and sustain them????

They have the capability of conducting submarine launched operations (both strategic and tactical) as well as operations using destroyer/frigate, but not for long range amphibious ops involving landing troops. They have a carrier under development.

String of pearls has historic similarity to how the British colonial strategy - first they had these bunch of trade ports. Then, to defend their economic interests, they fought sea battles, and then moved on to land battles.

 

[Armand2REP]

Does China have a supply chain capability to carry out naval operations thousands of miles away and sustain them????

Uh... no. They have to use the French base in Djibouti to keep their Somali patrols running.

But the Chinese navy has encountered difficulties in sustaining such operations, involving complex logistics, so far from home. One escort flotilla spent 124 days at sea without docking. Chinese warships have been using a French naval base at Djibouti for resupply.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Res...Arabian-Sea/UPI-24731262213319/#ixzz1HD2DBMvw

 

[Atul]

Uh... no. They have to use the French base in Djibouti to keep their Somali patrols running.

so why are the French assisting the Chinese??

 

[LETHALFORCE]

They have the capability of conducting submarine launched operations (both strategic and tactical) as well as operations using destroyer/frigate, but not for long range amphibious ops involving landing troops. They have a carrier under development.

String of pearls has historic similarity to how the British colonial strategy - first they had these bunch of trade ports. Then, to defend their economic interests, they fought sea battles, and then moved on to land battles.

what would a third country get by being involved in a conflict between 2 giants?? What will the repercussions be for them?? Will they remain off limits ?? They would be to travel thousands of miles undetected?? British analogy is not the same.The British colonized most of the places where they setup Ports,are these countries going to be colonized by China??

 

[anoop_mig25]

are these countries going to be colonized by China??

what is this possibility that china wont use soviet style like help / proxy governemnts in its favoured/like mined country(assuming that china become as powerfull as once soviet union was)

 

[Armand2REP]

so why are the French assisting the Chinese??

The more Chinese ships patrol, the less France has to pick up the slack.

 

[Armand2REP]

what is this possibility that china wont use soviet style like help / proxy governemnts in its favoured/like mined country(assuming that china become as powerfull as once soviet union was)

You are talking about the next Cold War... China depends too much on the West to cut themselves off like that.

 

[kch]

British analogy is not the same.The British colonized most of the places where they setup Ports,are these countries going to be colonized by China??

I didn't mean Chinese objectives are similar - only the strategy is similar. Ie. I don't think Chinese aim to colonize, but they do aim to have "friendly" regimes installed all along the string of pearls. Once the string of pearls is crucial to their economy, they'll fight tooth and nail to install governments friendly to them. I believe that at that point, they won't hesitate in sending an expeditionary force to achieve that. I'm talking of 10-20 years from now.

 

[joe81]

The most important 'pearl' in the String of Pearls is Sri Lanka. Indian govt should take all steps to prevent China from dominating Sri Lanka.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

The only real string of pearl in Asia is the noose that USA has tied around China's neck.

 

[no smoking]

In the event of hostilities the IN can blockade the Malacca Straits fairly easily, and the PLAN won't be able to do much about it.

And US navy will come to prevent india navy from doing this.

 

[no smoking]

You are talking about the next Cold War... China depends too much on the West to cut themselves off like that.

And the West depends on China too much as well. That is why there is no serious trade war after so many years shouting.

 

[Suryakiran]

Does China have a supply chain capability to carry out naval operations thousands of miles away and sustain them????

China definitely can have it's nave face the much weaker Vietnam or Thailand or Philippines navies. For ex, Battle of the Paracel Islands where PLAN forcefully took control of Paracel Islands from weak Vietnamese Navy.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

China definitely can have it's nave face the much weaker Vietnam or Thailand or Philippines navies. For ex, Battle of the Paracel Islands where PLAN forcefully took control of Paracel Islands from weak Vietnamese Navy.

This is true but these nations will become more militarized as the Chinese threat increases, USA will also get involved and any bad moves by the
Chinese will be an embarrassement like their 1979 defeat in the war against Vietnam. The countries in the South China seas are not going to sit
back and let China walk over them, new alliances may develop as the Chinese threat increases.

 

[amoy]

The most important 'pearl' in the String of Pearls is Sri Lanka. Indian govt should take all steps to prevent China from dominating Sri Lanka.

Instead Myanmar should be the most important. Myanmar has gas/oil (pipelined to China) and deepwater seaports.

With Pakistan on the West , and now Myanmar (through which links are extended to BD) on the East, China is tightening the noose around India (*_*)

About the tri-nation 111Km-long highway connecting Bangladesh-Myanmar-China, Qin said the Chinese government will extend all necessary cooperation to establish the highway.

In reply, the premier said the proposed highway connecting Chittagong-Myanmar-Kunming would play a vital role in increasing bilateral trade and commerce.

"Bangladesh looks forward to establishing direct road and rail links with China via Myanmar," Hasina said.

The PM also told the governor that her government decided in principle to open consular office in Kunming.

The premier sought cooperation in the fields of agriculture, education, civil aviation, tourism, power and energy between Bangladesh and China as well as Yunnan province.

She also sought Chinese cooperation in introducing high-yielding varieties of rice in Bangladesh.

Hasina thanked the Chinese authorities for existing air link between the two countries via Kunming that made Kunming-Dhaka trip easier and comfortable.

YANGON, October 23 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar has been making efforts to develop the country's rail transportation, with the railroads' length doubled over the past 22 years

（omitted)

The projected Yangon-Nay Pyi Taw express railway extends as long as 361.6 kilometers.

The aim of the project is to facilitate transportation between the old and new capitals as Myanmar will host the Southeast Asian Games in the new capital Nay Pyi Taw in 2013.

(omitted)

Moreover, Myanmar has planned to construct a railroad that will link a deep-sea port, Kyaukphyu, in western Rakhine state with Kunming, southwest of China.

（omitted)

After the project is implemented, Myanmar's Shan State and China's Yunnan province can be connected directly and the railroad will mainly facilitate the goods flow from China with Magway and Mandalay regions to become the main business towns..