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Caribbean-Latin America

Chavez to buy Chicom fighter aircraft

2008-09-22

Venezuela will buy combat and training aircraft from China this week, leftist Venezuela President Hugo Chavez confirmed in a television broadcast Sunday. The purchases will be made as part of a six-country tour, Chavez said in his broadcast of the "Alo President" television program from the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, hours before leaving on a "strategic interest" trip to Cuba, China, Russia, Belarus, France and Portugal.

Chavez, a staunch foe of the US government, confirmed that during his stay in Beijing he will purchase 24 K-8 aircraft "to train fighter pilots." The planes could be part of Venezuela's air force by next year.

The president also confirmed that while in Beijing he will arrange the construction of tanker vessels in Chinese shipyards, with the aim of installing a shipyard in Venezuela in the near future. These plans come in addition to the construction of a refinery in China to process oil from Venezuela, and plans to create a bi-national company to install a refinery in the remote oil-rich Orinoco region in eastern Venezuela.

Caracas provides 500,000 barrels of oil per day to Beijing, a trade which is expected to increase to one million barrels a day by 2012.

Chavez, who describes China as a strategic ally, will move forward with a six billion dollar bilateral investment fund. China will contribute four billion dollars to the fund, and Venezuela two billion dollars. Caracas will use the fund for "socialist productive projects."

Just taking care of his friends ...

"Before we had to go to Washington to beg for money. Not now. Now we negotiate with the Chinese," said Chavez. Chavez announced that during his visit to Beijing the investment fund will benefit from an additional four billion dollars for further "development" in Venezuela.

After China, Chavez will head to Moscow. Chavez's trip is expected to last until September 27.

Posted by:Steve White

#10 These the same planes taken out by one of our turboprop electronic eavesdropping planes? HA!

Posted by: Last Breath Farm Resident 2008-09-22 20:40

#9 The point isn't to have planes. The point is to invite former communist powers into the American hemisphere.

Posted by: lotp 2008-09-22 19:14

#8 For all the money stuffed suitcases Hugo sent, you'd think the prez of Argentina would let him have a few Pucaras.

Posted by: ed 2008-09-22 17:56

#7 Interesting that he bought this plane from China instead of buying more AMX's (a similar type of plane, can be used for light attack or training) from Brazil (you know, leftist government, right next door, etc)?

Posted by: Abdominal Snowman 2008-09-22 17:51

#6 The J-* can also be used as a ground-attack/COIN aircraft. As far as Venezuelan pilots - no doubt a sizable cadre of trainers comes along with the support package.

Posted by: Pappy 2008-09-22 17:39

#5 The cutting edge of Sino-Pakistani aircraft technology!

Posted by: mojo 2008-09-22 16:16

#4 If the planes aren't any better than the baby milk, dog food, autos, etc, etc., the Hugos in trouble. Let's not tell him and let him find out himself.

Posted by: JohnQC 2008-09-22 16:01

#3 A fighter plane is only as good as the pilot. I have no faith the Venezualan pilots would put up any kind of fight against the US. I wonder if we might find Venezuelan pilots speaking Russian for the next decade or so.

Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-09-22 11:20

#2 "Before we had to go to Washington to beg for money. Not now. Now we negotiate with the Chinese,"

He'll have to que up properly to the Chinese Communists. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now enjoy... Most-Favored status.

Posted by: Besoeker 2008-09-22 04:30

#1 and some cookies.....oh and don't forget the milk...lots of milk

Posted by: Classer 2008-09-22 00:54

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