| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa: North |
| Chicom-Egypt Summit Yields Dual-Use Tech Agreements |
| 2004-02-04 |
| From Geostrategy-Direct... China and Egypt have agreed to a summit to bolster technological cooperation. Meaning military technology. Officials said China and Egypt plan to sign four cooperation agreements in economy and technology as part of improved strategic relations between Beijing and Cairo. Chinese President Hu Jintao signed the agreements during the visit on Jan. 28. Hu met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in a visit that focused on strategic cooperation and regional issues. Officials said the two countries have agreed to bolster technological cooperation and trade. Meaning if Egypt cannot get it from us they will get it from the Chicoms. Western diplomatic sources said the two countries planned to sign several technological cooperation agreements that have dual-use applications for Egypt’s military. The sources said the Chinese summit is part of Beijing’s effort to increase its relations with North African states. Start with Zim and work north. China is looking long term. They are trying to do the same in Central and South America. China has tried to increase its military and defense ties with several Arab countries. China has been supplying Egypt with the components to produce China’s K-8 turboprop air trainer for the Egyptian Air Force. Egypt plans to produce or import 80 such aircraft. In 1999, China and Egypt signed a strategic cooperation accord that opened the way for the sale of missiles and satellites. Since then, Egyptian officials have discussed the prospect of Chinese help to Egypt’s reconnaissance satellite program. The sources said China has offered such countries as Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Syria a range of missiles and components for nuclear facilities. Next are nuke payloads by others. Does this come out of our $2 bil in foreign aid to Egypt? It seems if Egypt can afford to buy this stuff on their own, they do not need our aid. Hey, but what do I know? They said Chinese military delegations have visited each of these countries over the past year. Egyptian officials did not discuss the prospect of Chinese military sales to Egypt. They said Hu would discuss Middle East issues, including Egypt’s plan to eliminate weapons of mass destruction in the region. Hu is also visiting Algeria in a tour that will end on Feb. 4. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #2 Isn't much of our aid to Egypt of a military aid flavor? Wouldn't that mean that we are footing the bill for Egypt to rent Chinese aircraft and possibly transfer technology to China? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-2-4 7:57:07 PM |
| #1 Egypt plans to produce or import 80 such aircraft. To what end? Maintenance of pilot proficiency? Wonder how much they'll end up renting 'em for. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-4 5:34:55 PM |