Monday, March 08, 2010

Oh, there's a canal there?

You're not being paranoid if ...
One of China’s premier investment zones is expected soon to replicate its successful development model near the southern approaches to the Suez canal, according to Egypt’s investment minister.

The Egyptian government is negotiating with the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, which it is courting to help build the Suez Economic Zone. Under Egyptian law, TEDA could take up to a 49 per cent stake in the $1.5bn (€1.1bn, £1bn) project.

“SEZone is going to be the first of its kind linked to a big investor,” Mahmoud Mohieldin told the Financial Times in an interview. “The final negotiations will hopefully be taking place very soon.”
Canals .... AKA choke points along the SLOC.

Influence is as important as force of arms. Remember that.

23 comments:

SCOTTtheBADGER said...

Thanks a lot, as if I don't have enough gray hair without hearing about things like this.

LT B said...

Nothing to see here, nothing to see here, go on home, shop at Wally world!  To POTUS, "Strategy, you keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it does." :)

Skippy-san said...

This just adds fuel to my belief that we really screwed up in 1956 by not helping Britain and France retake what was rightfully theirs. The whole string of problems in the Middle East flow from that one point.

Skippy-san said...

But someone is going to have to explain how remaining in Iraq and  Afghanistan helps prevent the Chinese from doing this-because it doesn't. It enables it.

UltimaRatioRegis said...

Skippy,

I'll bite.  Why didn't Eisenhower back France and Britain in their play?  The action of our allies was a direct result of Nasser playing footsie witht the Soviets, and an attempt to try and secure the canal against eventualities such as the Chinese are now bringing about.

Combat Wombat said...

But..Bu..but...they're our fwiends!!! :'(

ewok40k said...

Well, why dont you outbid them? Egypt is a major US miltary aid recipient, remind it to those in charge in Cairo...

The Brickmuppet said...

" <span>This just adds fuel to my belief that we really screwed up in 1956 by not helping Britain and France retake what was rightfully theirs.</span> "

Holy Crap. I agree with Skippy.

cdrsalamander said...

E40,
A not so dirty, not so secret.  US law prohibits US Govt and companies from paying bribes overseas.  Contrary from what you see from Hollywood movies, in areas such as this type of commercial enterprise - we don't.  People actually go to jail here for doing so (google Armor Holdings).

The Chinese have no problem with that.  You cannot outbid someone when you can't bid at all.

Doing business with the Egyptians is not like doing business with the Finns.

Byron said...

Skippy, saying that the problems of the Middle East derive from this is not accurate at all. If you want to point a finger at someone, look no further than Winston Churchill.

And givine the Suez to the Egyptians made about as much sense as giving the Panama Canal back to the Panamanians. We built it.

virgil xenophon said...

The Chinese with heavy influence over the operations of BOTH the Panama & Suez Canals? What could EVER possibly go wrong?

ewok40k said...

... collecting jaw from the floor ... talk about shooting yourself in the foot. How in the hell we managed to pull off the masive bribery aka Sunni awakening? I am sure there is a way to connect our interest with Egyptian one...
... what about just reminding them that we can stop servicing their F-16s?

ewok40k said...

Well, did anyone ask Egyptians/Colombians if they want a canal to be built? It was the XIX century way of conquering anyone who dared to happen to be in the wrong place on the geopolitical map that made imperialism such abhorred concept. Do you think Egyptians entertain the idea of being someones protectorate forever just because they happen to sit on a chokepoint? This is from the viewpoint of chokepoint between Baltic and Carpathia, completely understood.

DeltaBravo said...

Can we just have the apocalypse now.  This slow death by water torture is getting old.  Just do it. 

G-man said...

Next up on China's shopping list: a nice south African port somehwere around Namibia or Zimbabwe.  Mebbe even Seychelles.  That way get us going and coming.  Maybe time for US to finally figure out a way wean us from mid-east oil.

Navymic said...

Zimbabwe! Hilarious!

cdrsalamander said...

Apples and turnips.

Andrewdb said...

NM - it's not like they aren't trying.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/24/zimbabwe.china

sid said...

They have a pretty nifty spot on the Makran Coast...

Whats going on at Dehalak and Perim these days?

On a somewhat related note, on the other side of the world...note the big 74  that was choking up the ramp in PAP. It was one of the first aircraft there.

They are making their presence felt throughout the Caribbean

Skippy-san said...

Byron,

   I never said that was the cause of all the problems in the Middle East. And actually those can be laid at the feet of Lord Sykes and Mssr Picot. And Lord Balfour.

   However, at Suez, the US had a chance to stick up for a European ally that was advacning US interests in the Middle East at very little cost to its self. As a result of the disaster at Suez, the 15 year sprial to withdrawal of Britain East of Suez began.

    The result? Arab states run by Arabs-with no European influence to restrain them. Since Arabs ALWAYS screw up everything they touch-the present era gloomily dawned.  Eventually, it touched us. That's why I believe 1956 was a turning point. Had we supported more of British influence in the Middle East-it would have supported our interests as well.

Skippy-san said...

Uh....isn't Zimbabwe landlocked?

DeltaBravo said...

Dear Lord, forgive me again.  I have agreed with Skippy once more.  Amen.

ewok40k said...

Since 1973, when Egyptians came this close <---> to defeating Israelis, you can't make argument they screw up everything. And BTW, Suez canal is operating (occasional war aside) for over 50 years since 1956 and hasn't broken down. IDK if the operating personel is 100% local, but even if not, they have the common sense to hire specialists when needed. And occupying countries by force is bad policy in the long run. See how it unfolded for the Soviets in Central Europe...