The US Department of Defense in its annual report to Congress on ‘Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2020’ has stated that Pakistan is among the countries that have been chosen by Beijing for “military logistics facilities” .
According to the Defense Department report released last week, the People’s Republic of China is seeking to establish a strong overseas base and logistics infrastructure to allow the PLA to project and maintain military power at greater distances.
“Beyond its current base in Djibouti, it is highly likely that the People’s Republic of China is already considering and planning additional overseas military logistics facilities to support naval, air and land forces. The People’s Republic of China has likely considered locations for PLA military logistics facilities in Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola and Tajikistan, ”the report reads.
The Department further stated that China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) projects in Pakistan related to the construction of oil pipelines and ports are intended to decrease Beijing’s dependence on the transportation of energy resources through strategic bottlenecks, such as the Strait of Malacca.
“In support of its national strategy, the People’s Republic of China pursues a number of objectives through OBOR that include strengthening its territorial integrity, increasing its energy security and expanding its international influence. As the Party views the security and development interests of the People’s Republic of China as complementary, the People’s Republic of China takes advantage of OBOR to invest in projects along the western and southern periphery of China to improve stability and lessen threats. along its borders. Similarly, the OBOR projects associated with the construction of pipelines and ports in Pakistan are intended to decrease China’s dependence on transporting energy resources through strategic bottlenecks, such as the Strait of Malacca, ”said the department. .
China’s Strategic Support Force (SSF) manages command, telemetry and tracking stations in Namibia, Pakistan and Argentina, the Pentagon noted.
In addition, China has increased its bilateral and multilateral engagement with foreign armies, including Russia, Pakistan, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as it will enhance the PLA’s ability to organize and manage combined operations involving foreign forces.
“The People’s Republic of China uses multilateral forums and international organizations to generate new opportunities to expand its influence, strengthen its political influence, promote strategic messages that present it as a responsible global player, promote its development interests, and limit external interference and criticism. of their initiatives, ”the report said.
“To these ends, the People’s Republic of China has adopted multilateral organizations such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as forums and initiatives such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, the “17 + 1” initiative between China and 17 Central and Eastern European countries, and the Belt and Road Forum, ”the report reads. .
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