Chinese Security and Geopolitics

Sparten,

 

Thanks for the clarification "on the ground."

 

I had read about two historic passes that are close enough together to be one route down into the plains of the subcontinent.  One was "killak ?" and I understood that, although unpaved it was passable all year.  Both these passes I think were close to Indian Kashmir.

 

The way over the pass you mentioned is relatively modern and recently paved, etc.  If the others are passable, what is the strategic thinking about their usability, or development for strategic purposes?  Was Khujarab finished because it is further away from Indian Kashmir?

 

As far as Nepal, until the Hindu kingdom was abolished, I hadn't thought much about it.  Now things may be viewed with some concern by the Indian general staff.  I don't know the passes there at all.  Help us!

 

 

 

By the way I noticed I mispelled Khunjerab. here is the obligatory wiki link.

 

 

It connects a Chinese province (whose name escapes me now) with the territory of the N Areas.

 

It is the main route from the Sub Continent (though the N Areas is on the Eurasian plate it is still considered sub-continent) to China. The old silk route. There is one in Nepal.

 

There is a strategic road which connects the pass to China, called the Karakorum Highway, the worlds highest road.

 

It is scray, the bridges, a ten thousand foot drop. Like being in an airplane. I had some pics. If I can find them I'll post them.

 

 

 

 

Originally posted by pikeshot1600 [An Asian nation, homogeneous in population, bereft of much in the way of natural resources, needing to control key geographical features, (and to block out the United States with a defensive perimeter) for perceived security needs.   Hmmm....can anyone say "co-prosperity sphere?"  The game doesn't change, but the roster of players does.

funnily enough the same perimeter is used by the USA to protect the pacific (USA) from the east and project into Asia. Its the same logic in reverse.

One item that comes up in CCP language, is the introverted  belief of china's of traditional rights over external disputed territories. This has more to do with CCP legitimacy and authority (inc on its own internal periphery), by the way of nationalism and is more related to the first point i made. That is the moral right dimension in the logic of Beijing

 

Originally posted by pikeshot1600 Unlike the 1941 Japanese, the Chinese lack the naval muscle, but 50 years from now, it may be otherwise.

The Chinese navy building is accelerating every year. I think the first island chain they are looking at is realistic within a much shorter time frame. I guess, Taiwan would be the first move,  south china sea would be next, they wont aggressively push the claims over the Japanese until after those two have been secured (in any order). Japan has the navy to match them for quite a while yet, other Asian powers don't.

Holding Taiwan would put them in the box seat for any future projections and punch through any US cordon. Its also can cut the same maritime supply routes (it depends on) from the Japanese and Koreans who are even more reliant on it for their energy needs. While the sweetener is , it also makes it more problematic for Russia to reassert in SE Asia. Taiwan adds to both their defensive position and gives them an advantage over their east Asian rivals with a powerful choke hold.

The second island chain would require a massive and advanced blue water fleet to match the USA which will not happen anytime soon, nor without a real fight.

 

 

China's major source for oil is more likely to be addressed by overland routes from central Asia, which can be more secure.  China's trade routes to the Western hemisphere are totally dependant on relations with the US.  Their resource routes from Africa, and as long as necessary from the Gulf, will be dependant on both US and Indian interests.

 

Here is an analysis of the competition over oil in Africa:

Darfur? It’s the Oil, Stupid…
http://www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net/Geopolitics

China has too many geostrategic issues to be able to dominate other geographies.

I agree. China's geographical position is not favourable for superpower status.

Great power in asia is more likely.

Indeed, I had not thought of that. Indeed, it not neccesrily even be shipped: It could cross the Iran/Pakistan border.

Main issue- vulnerability of Kashmir region.

 

The highway gose through the NWFP province and the N Areas territory, bypassing Kashmir totally. Its has never been threathened in 4 wars.

 

 

No not here.  The topic is China's security concerns.