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| China-Japan-Koreas | |
| China in Kyrgyzstan | |
| 2010-12-03 | |
| A confidential State Department cable made public this week highlights China's role in the U.S.-led war on terrorism. The U.S. ambassador in far-off Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, confronted China's ambassador about a covert attempt by Beijing to bribe the government there to shut down the strategic U.S. military transit base at Manas in exchange for $3 billion in cash.
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| Posted by:Wheath Flains5258 |
| #2 I'll throw out a WAG or two: 1. China sees the region as part of its growing sphere of influence. 2. China has long been a traditional backer of Pakistan and a rival to India. Both of the latter have interests in Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-12-03 22:56 |
| #1 Chinese intelligence personnel, however, are another story, according to U.S. officials who have said Beijing's intelligence presence is very large in the country. Mr. Zhang advised the U.S. ambassador on how to keep the base. "Just give them $150 million in cash [per year, and] you will have the base," he said. That's probably closer to reality. Russia is the top influence there because of their historical connection, China is moving in on a commercial basis, but they see Kyrgyzstan as small fry and the US need a base there because of Afghanistan. The The Kyrgyzis are trying to play one against the other, which would be closer to the truth because the average bureaucrat there lives in an alternative reality, in which money appears on trees, hence the three billion figure. They will then watch the reaction before making their next move. The thing with them is to make up a cock and bull story about why you can't give them anything and then get them to commiserate with you until the next time. That's what I do when I'm dealing with them. |
| Posted by: tipper 2010-12-03 22:42 |