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| Africa: North |
| Chicoms upgrade strategic ties w/ Egypt, gains expanded access to Suez Canal |
| 2005-11-04 |
| From East Asia Intel, subscription WASHINGTON — Growing economic and military links between China and Egypt "indicate a geopolitical dimension," which could include nuclear cooperation in the future. Somehow I do not find that reassuring, given the history of the Chicom assistance given to the Paks. The Jamestown Foundation said in a new report that Egypt plans to expand Chinese military and other relations as part of the Arab state's strategic option to reduce dependency on the United States. The Washington-based group said that Egypt and China already cooperate on strategic issues in Africa and the Middle East. Cooperate on strategic issues in Africa and the ME? Like, meaning taking gifts and bribes from the Chicoms? It just goes to show that you cannot by friendship with billions of dollars. "Toward this end, while Beijing has pursued closer economic ties with Cairo, growing political and military relations with Egypt indicate a geopolitical dimension that is leading to a strategic partnership between the two countries," stated the report, "Down the River Nile: China Gains Influence in Egypt." So Egypt is looking for another sugar daddy with less strings attached? The report said Egypt has provided China with expanded access to the Suez Canal, the report said. In 2002, a Chinese guided missile destroyer and a supply ship crossed the Suez Canal and docked in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria. The next step in Chinese-Egyptian cooperation could be in the nuclear field, the report said. China has already offered nuclear cooperation to several Middle East states, including Algeria and Iran. I swear, that between the Russians, Chicoms, Iranians, and all the nutcase govts in the ME, that within a decade it will be a radioactive, smoking hole. The ME govts think that possessing nukes is the ticket to worldwide respect. And where are the LLL anti-nuke moonbats? **crickets chirping** Authored by Chris Zambelis, the report said China has been helping Egypt's military and energy programs as part of bilateral trade expected to reach $2 billion this year. Zambelis said the two countries have embarked on several joint oil and natural gas exploration ventures while exchanging high-level military officials. The report cited an Egyptian-Chinese partnership to produce K-8E air trainers for the Egyptian air force. The China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp., or CATIC, has partnered with Egypt's AOI Aircraft for joint production of the aircraft, which the report said "indicates closer ties between both countries' defense industries and military." "China's ties to Egypt extend far beyond the energy and trade spheres and include a geopolitical dimension that is leading to a strategic partnership — some aspects of which conflict with Washington," the report said. "Indeed, Egypt continues to enjoy close political, military and economic relations with the U.S. and is counted as one of Washington's leading allies in the region." Leading allies cost to the US is $2 billion/year. Despite close political ties with Beijing, Egypt does not plan to abandon its military relationship with the United States, the report said. They naturally would not want to part with the bennies. Cairo receives nearly $2 billion in annual aid from the United States, $1.3 billion in military assistance. "Sino-Egyptian cooperation extends to military affairs in the form of regular high-level contacts between Beijing and Cairo, a relationship that stems from the NAM [non-aligned movement]," the report said. "So far, these contacts reaffirm the growing strategic partnership both countries have built in the political and economic spheres but have yet to translate into more tangible results such as the sale of modern weapons systems, as Washington remains the primary source for Egypt's armed forces," it said. "China's history of nuclear cooperation in the region may portend closer ties with Egypt in this area, if Cairo decides on such a course of action," the report said. "Egypt has already approached China and Russia in 2002 for assistance in the development of a nuclear reactor in Alexandria." Bushehr in the Med. |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |