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China To Build Military Base In Africa Next To Critical Oil Transit Choke Point
One year ago, we reported that while the west was scrambling to assure the world that it wasn't collapsing courtesy of record central bank debt monetization even as number of people not in the US labor force steadily approaches 100 million, while peripheral Europe is saddled with 25% unemployment and 50%+ youth unemployment (but... but.. the stock markets are at all time highs), China was busy colonizing a new continent not only infrastructurally.....
... but militarily, in this case in the southern African nation which recently had achieved the pinnacle of Keynesian economic dogma: hyperinflation through currency debasement. Recall what the Zimbabwean wrote in March of 2014:
China is planning to set up a modern high-tech military base in the diamond-rich Marange fields, says a German-based website, Telescope News.
The news of the agreement to set up the first Chinese military airbase in Africa comes amid increasing bilateral cooperation between Zimbabwe and China – notably in mining, agriculture and preferential trade. China is the only country exempted from the indigenisation laws which force all foreign investors to cede 51% of their shareholding to carefully selected indigenous Zimbabweans.
The Marange story quoted unnamed military officials and a diplomat admitting knowledge of the plan to set up the base. Efforts to get a comment from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces were fruitless, as spokesperson Lt Col Alphios Makotore was consistently unavailable and did not respond to emails by the time of going to press.
The website speculated that China could be positioning itself for future “gunboat diplomacy” where its military presence would give it bargaining power against superpowers like the US. It would also be safeguarding its significant economic interests in Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa.
And while this is not a story about Zimbabwe, we should remind readers that Zimbabwe's despotic ruler, a person widely loathed by the west (after being an object of "democratic" admiration in the 1980s and 1990s), Robert Mugabe has recently become a pawn of none other than China:
Confidential Central Intelligence Organisation documents leaked last year suggested that China had played a central role in retaining President Robert Mugabe in the July 31 elections, indicating that high level military officers had worked closely with the local army in poll strategies while Beijing bankrolled Zanu (PF).
China is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner after South Africa and has strategic economic interests in many African countries to guarantee raw materials, job sources and markets for its huge population. The new Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Lin Lin, recently said trade between the two countries last year exceeded the $1 billion mark. Yet Zimbabwe is only 26th on the list of China’s 58 biggest African trading partners.
The Asian country has supplied Zimbabwe with military hardware, including MIG jet fighters, tanks, armoured vehicles and rifles, since Independence.
Bottom line: one year ago China was well on its way to marking its territory in southern Africa, with a core military presence near the all important for global trade Cape of Good Hope which is the transit point for about 10% of global seaborne-traded oil.
Fast forward to today when AFP reports that after securing Southen Africa, China is now in process of securing the second critical geopolitical area in Africa: the horn, which just happens to be right next to the infamous Bab el-Mandeb Strait located by the recently infamous country of Yemen, which in recent months has been overrun by US-armed Houthi Rebels.
According to AFP, China is negotiating a military base in the strategic port of Djibouti, the president said, raising the prospect of US and Chinese bases side-by-side in the tiny Horn of Africa nation. "Discussions are ongoing," President Ismail Omar Guelleh told AFP in an interview in Djibouti, saying Beijing's presence would be "welcome".
Why Djibouti? So China can have a bird's eye view of everything that happens at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait: one of the top 5 oil choke points in the world: "An estimated 3.8 million bbl/d of crude oil and refined petroleum products flowed through this waterway in 2013 toward Europe, the United States, and Asia, an increase from 2.9 million bbl/d in 2009. Oil shipped through the strait decreased by almost one-third in 2009 because of the global economic downturn and the decline in northbound oil shipments to Europe. Northbound oil shipments increased through Bab el-Mandeb Strait in 2013, and more than half of the traffic, about 2.1 million bbl/d, moved northbound to the Suez Canal and SUMED Pipeline."

Ironically, Djibouti is already home to Camp Lemonnier, the US military headquarters on the continent, used for covert, anti-terror and other operations in Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere across Africa.
The US is not alone: France and Japan also have bases in the port, a former French colony that guards the entrance to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and which has been used by European and other international navies as a base in the fight against piracy from neighbouring Somalia.

And now here comes China.
China is already financing several major infrastructure projects estimated to total more than $9 billion, including improved ports, airports and railway lines to landlocked Ethiopia, for whom Djibouti is a lifeline port.
"France's presence is old, and the Americans found that the position of Djibouti could help in the fight against terrorism in the region," Guelleh said.
"The Japanese want to protect themselves from piracy — and now the Chinese also want to protect their interests, and they are welcome," he said.
Djibouti overseas the narrow Bab al-Mandeb straits, the channel separating Africa from Arabia and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, leading into the Red Sea and northwards to the Mediterranean.
The US will be very angry, especially since Washington was already angry when Djibouti and Beijing signed a military agreement allowing the Chinese navy to use Djibouti port in February 2014. Surely the US top diplomat will not be happy to learn that now China aims to install a permanent military base in Obock, Djibouti's northern port city.
Then again, John Kerry and the US State Department may have more than enough domestic scandals on their plate, now that everyone is demanding (or should be) to learn out why said Department will not investigate Hillary Clinton's breach of protocol and abuse of her foundation for personal financial gain offset by US diplomatic "favors."
Meanwhile, China's colonization - both peaceful and military - of Africa will continue, as will its increasing presence in determining who decides which way the world's oil flows.
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I actually had to look up where 'Bab el-Mandab' was. Learn something new errday.
China is welcome to put some skin into the game. I do wonder , however, how much of their oil is shipped North ?
Cue the ring announcer...
"Let's get ready to rumble!"
...Yemen, which is being overrun by U.S. armed rebels."
Isnt "U.S. armed rebels" a little redundant at this point? Could have just said rebels, we know who is arming them... and in just about every other conflict around the world as well.
Redundant is not the correct term. The description is the example of intentional disinformation. The Houthi rebels are using arms captured from the Yemeni Army. Yes, the weapons were originally supplied to that Yemeni Army by the US. Simply describing the rebels as US armed is attempting to create a false narrative and place blame on the US. The anti-American tactic is a regular feature on ZH.
Well China is redundantly brokering some power fooking plays right under the nose of the Oligarchy & you wanna know what's really funny?
They can't do a damn thing about it either!!! HAHAHA!!! Tick Tock Bitches!
Still think China can produce a good product?
Chinese helmet vs Japanese helmet
mmm ... I'm glad they at least took the helmets off before banging them.
Very impressive however. Confirms my feelings about most 'Hecho en China' products.
As a result of threatening China, the USSA is reaping what it has sown. The last Hong Kong color revolution was a failure, but it did wake up the chinese elite. After seeing the Ukraine coup, the chinese realize that they have to protect themselves from the declining, but very violent, USSA empire.
@LL
If this were truly the case, the Chinese would not have been handed the ports, farmland, agribusiness.
This China/Russia alliance against the USSA is horseshit. Pure Kabuki.
http://www.ewg.org/mining/owners/overview.php?cust_id=-4
Willy interesting link, but it does not make your point. All it shows is that the collapsing disUnited States is riddled with corruption. We know this already. We've crossed the get-it-while-you-can event horizon. Everyone who can is feeding on the carcass.
If we are at odds with China/Russia, do we allow them the assets of this country?
Tell me this is not collaborative.
It may be a tactic on ZH but not neccessarily a unfounded one. Also, it is not like ZH is purposely trying to besmirch the honor or intentions of US policy or procedure. They (the US) have done well at doing that for themselves.
You know what? Good for them. Maybe Amerikka can take some lessons instead of raping poor countries or sending in contractors to shoot the heads of there government if they are not 'rape-our-resources' compliant. Get used to the China-Russia-Pakistan alliance making serious inroads while we stagnate under the elite-steal-everything regimes we have in place now.
Clearly China is out of its element and depth, for not using the highly successful Foreign Policy that the US has been using for a several decades: Walk Loudly and Carry a Big Stick.
Cause only 'Merica's Foreign Policy is great at "Winning Friends and Influencing People". E.g. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Ukraine, Europe, Russia, China...
We're #1! We're #1!
This move is clearly nothing to do with counter threatening the West's oil supply in the event, highly unlikely of course, of the USN threatening Chinia's oil supply routes.
They just want to have more exercises with the Russians in the Med, without having to sail all the way home!
Gee - I guess this answers the question why Chins is building new state-of-the-art aircraft carriers...
Call it propaganda or just stupidity but China is the master of no one.....they're told what to buy and when to buy
China, U.S. Vow to Deepen Military Relations
China’s J-31/FC-31 POS
China & France Sign Science Sharing Agreement Including Military Technology
China Military (PLA) ‘insufficient modernization to win local wars….tends to avoid conflict’ – RAND Report
China State Media Says – Sound British
China’s Soldiers Poorly Equipped For Modern Battlefield
China Elite Taught Global View in $103,000-a-Year Swiss Schools
Thus speaks a supposed Texan, based on your handle. ....Brother, get out of the US, and explore the world. Visit China, and remember that unlike the average american shlub, they know their history. They remember how the British exploited them, and see americans as merely their sucessors. They also know their 'Sun Tzu'. When they are ready to exert themselves, the US will be the last to figure it out.
When was the last time you spent any time in China? Where do you get your "information" sitting on the other side of the planet?
You just believe all the propaganda your handlers tell you to believe. You win the Good Citizen Award for your sector.
Get a fucking passport and a visa to China. Spend time there and see what is really going on.
Or STFU.
Now add:
China lowers prime interest rate by 0.25 %, raises deposit ceiling to 1.5 X
How long will it take to move this headline from Reuters to zip Hedge ??? probably around 10:30 EDT ;-)
But, what difference will it make, anyway...
Rothschild went east in the 70's.
The old You can't Nuke my base it's too close to Yours, ploy.. Bar fights in Town might get interesting though..
Jim Willie says Americans are coming home in body bags from Djibouti.
China is a regional soft power, right? No imperialistic ambitions at all I'm told.
forget this old crap. We will have 4 military bases now. USA is happy to have good neighbors
Something you may be missing is that those who wish to have power over others live in every (ficticious construct) country are all the fucking same.
Imperialism is an evil that has damaged, and continues to damage, humanity since humans decided civilization was preffereable to being a 'hunter/gatherers'
Civilization requires 'rulers'
Trouble is, humans cannot be trusted with such power.
Rulers lead to war and corruption.
I am an anarchist.
Then, here is your song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBojbjoMttI
Anyone try Kindzmarauli red wine from Georgia? I'm pretty sure Vlad imbibes a fair amount of this before his preposterous May Day speeches.
Good stuff, we just had a couple bottles of it at dinner.
Keep drinking.. after a few more bottles, you may make some sense, LOL. Putin does not need to drink Georgian swill. He could buy any of the best bordeaux wineries with his pocket change. Besides, if you knew anything about Putin, you would know that he rarely drinks.
So you got mom drunk again this Mother's Day.
Where did she do her face plant this year? The Red Lobster?
And when you rifled her pocket book, how much did you get?
The US 'buys' friendly countries by giving aid to those countries - which is then used to buy US military equipment and to line the pockets of that country's leaders.
China 'buys' friendly countries by investing in businesses and industries in those countries (the US used to do this). This not only gives the Chinese more natural resources, but also helps the local economy (even if many workers are imported Chinese). The one thing that does not change is the the local leaders still get their bribes!
NoWay - its a little worse than that. Read "The Economic Hitman". The author, John Perkins, starts out in the 60's estimating the needed capacity to electrify the island of Java in Indonesia. He quickly comes to realize that the plan is to vastly over estimate the need to greatly increase the swill available to US corporations who will build the grid, generating capacity, etc. Local officials, empowered to oversee the project are just paid off. One old yankee with some integrity who won't go along is just dumped and sent home.
He moves on from country to country and its always the same rip-off, with the poor locals left footing the inflated bill. In some cases, the local officials can't be bought. That's when the Jackals, the real hitmen are called in. Perkins specificly mentions Omar Torrijos in Panama and Jaime Robles in Equador meeting their end this way.
You vastly misunderestimate the sophistication of the international influence racket in the USSA. The 'Murican arsenal is far more sophisticated than the Chinese toolkit and includes almost every tool that the Chinese use, with the exception of certain fig leaf prohibitions in the USSA regarding public support of private enterprises.
I don't see Uncle Sam wearing this. Flashpoint coming up.
Are there any colors left in the crayon box for another of Pres. Peace Prize's color revolutions?
I suggest Burnt Sienna
Do Djibootians like cookies?
Icky Vicky, soon to be Cankles' Sec. Of State, could use a little fun in the sun since she poo poo'd all over the Ukraine job
This is ZH. We are allow to fight amongst ourselves with no recourse by the site admins.
Not always true. Censored, no go zones seem to move around. ABC seems to want some respect for the naked emporer's modesty, but on the other hand, they don't like to distort the flow of data points to the inference engines too often, in too big a way.
Edit - fwiw, not my downvote.
Eeebolaa!
It's always about da booty...
If we all cooperate, we all win.
If we are divided up and set agianst each other a few win and the majority lose.
Wake the fuck up people!
Countries are bullshit, arbitrary lines drawn by the aforemtntioned 'few'.
I hope a billion people move to where you are, so you can enjoy their company.
u.s. will be west virginia 10-15 yrs if country still around.
W VA is heaven compared to where the USA is headed. W VA is predomonantly white with not much crime.
What does China have too much of? Starving peasants.
What does africa have an abundance of? Empty, fertile land.
Couple million peasants sent into, say, Mozambique and we have a very interesting situation.
So what do you get when you cross a Chinese with a Black? Something like an Mongolian Arab? Just wondering. Also, wouldn't the blacks of Africa have an issue with "diversity", and would the influx of massive Chinese immigration lead Africa into being a third world sh*t hole?
Uh he Obumghole loses another one
Shake Djibouti!
What??!! Without our approval?
China heavily invested in Sudan and South Sudan oil. Plus the fertile and unerdeveloped growing land in Etniopia for food export
Plus Asian Investment Bank opportunities. Needs to keep the Empire in Chaos at arm's length since they are next after Russia is gelded
Well, it's about time.
It looks like China's military base debut (away from the South China Sea) happens to be Africa, the continent with so much Chinese investment..
Not too far from South Sudan, the world's youngest nation and greatest problems. Makes you wonder if South Sudan will be folded back into plain vanilla Sudan from whence it came.
No, this move has nothing to do with oil tankers bobbing around in the Persian Gulf. Choke points in the Indian Ocean.
It clearly looks landward at China's investments in Africa, especially its investments in African oil.
One reason people looked up to the USA was our endless available financing.
But looks like there is a new Banker in town.
China too appears to have an endless supply of financing.
Wouldn't it be funny IF after centuries of European Chaos in Africa... China created peace in Africa and a stable business environment.
Except the US will never let it happen.
Foreign affairs between China and the US haven't been this bad since the Korean War. And because it seems that China will check the US the South China Sea's endgame, the US will prolly bet its whole stack on Africa.
I wonder how much of that continent has really been explored for oil? Drilling and laying pipeline in the JUNGLE is something you save for the end. At least I would.
"The website speculated that China could be positioning itself for future “gunboat diplomacy” where its military presence would give it bargaining power against superpowers like the US. It would also be safeguarding its significant economic interests in Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa."
It's all bullshit the reset is planned. The east vs west is kabuki theater for the masses much like the feigned opposition amongst political parties on a larger scale; there will be no fight against China or Russia or Iran. If the narrative seems straight forward its a ruse.
It is the most expeditious manner with in which to establish global centralized government.
Multinational business is behind it as are governments and most of the mainline religions. All of the frustrations that you're experiencing wherever you are reading this are happening everywhere illegal immigrantion,unresponsive political process no matter who you elect, failed economy, spying, taking people's kids away, tighter controls. You need only read their writings as evidence; Brzezinski, Kissinger, Bush, Clinton, et al
Ask yourself how would the elites benefit by destroying it all, they wouldnt. there won't be a war perse but a culling of the global population to better manage the people and the planets resources.
There will be a planned collapse to usher in global currency and the crocodile tears will flow but it will happen. Call me a liar, or crazy, or cynical but the slow steady march toward this end has occurred unabated for as long as I can remember.
The only hope is to view all peoples of the earth as kindred family National governments and those who choose to govern are artificial constructs of men to lord over other men. Defend your family against governments, the family of man; abolish governments they are murderous criminals that seek to cement their control.
If you choose to turn your back on the evils exacted upon your fellow men whatever their creed,color, religion or country you do so at your own peril.
Great comment.
Now I would not say you are incorrect about the "kabuki theater" thing with the east, but it is my sincere belief that the Zionist plunders in the west have backed themselves into the intersection of two minefields and a cliff.
Their ponzi and grifts are showing reduced returns, while their efforts to keep things going have given the east the keys to the kingdom so to speak. Waiting below with guillotines are the slowly stirring awake plundered people.
I do believe that they have sort of trapped themselves with the dollar fiat, are trying to extricate themselves from that trap by moving into euro denominated assets, and out of the dollar. While they are trying to do this, they are finding themselves having to contend with Russia and China, using soon to be worthless dollars, picking up much of the spoils around the world.
In the mean time, I am one of the people with a guillotine, so regardless, they will one day have to contend with me, and us, the American people.
Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..
Oops a dupe.
Space for sale.
Bomb shelter equipped. Only $544.
Property taxes $45,667 a year.
Inquire within
Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission.
Well said, I gave you an up arrow. Authority is bunk.
I disagree, however, with your assessment that this is the dialectic on a global scale. Sometimes differences between gang leaders are real, and without a number 1 from Spectre, I don't see how the East and West will reconcile.
Consier 1984, and see how useful warring regions can be for mind control of masses.
tavistock sycologiculls
brookings chatham house ideas
gladio style kaos
sas,parachute regiment,mossad,cia wrecking crews with isis musselim fake beard agents al-Shabab, Boko Haram,procol harem, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb into saturn infinity
tony soprano protection rackets for control.
china been allowing the rabbi to trash many foreign infastructure investments.
time for russki and china man to start kicking back.
these zionist ass rapists need a taste of own medicine
dude lay off the Shrooms...
dude
you calling me
dude
who you
jew
just askin
kleinfelt
I've said it once, and I'll say it again, Zion stole the world via "printed" dollar fiat, but, because Zion tried to keep the plundering going on too long, the east, China and Russia, ended up with it.
Going to be a big war down the road with Zion screaming, "Mine!," and the east yelling, " We don't think so, as we have the dollar sales receipts."
Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..
Dear Zion,
You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here any longer.
An American citizen, not US subject.
That Chinese navy base is to protect the many Chinese container ships, especially to/from Greece. Not oil tankers at all (well maybe some refined product, not crude).
When container ships are targeted, that means all tankers have already been sunk and surplus torpedos can be aimed at anything still afloat.
China already built a airport years ago in Africa.
When China Met Africa: Lusaka Airporthttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OvtXC3h1fGc
China is expanding oil pipelines, while the Kenyan nigger in the White House stalls Canadian pipeline completion. Keystone. Remember?
Can you see why the Yemen Coast and it's war is so important?
Europe could be cut off from Red Sea/Suez for oil shipments.
Hey, A great possible future scenario of an African War with Chinese, Read this. Great little story by John Michael Greer. Great writer.
US/China quick war in Africa, US does badly, and resolution of that.
This week starts a five part series of a fictional narrative tracing out a scenario of American imperial defeat and collapse. This is scenario rather than prophecy—an outline of what could happen rather than a prediction of what will happen, and thus an exploration of some of the major vulnerabilities in America’s faltering empire.
It may also be worth saying that no real aircraft carriers were harmed in the making of this narrative.
How It Could Happen, Part One: Hubrishttp://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-it-could-happen-part-...
How It Could Happen, Part Two: Nemesishttp://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-it-could-happen-part-...
How It Could Happen, Part Three: To The Brinkhttp://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-it-could-happen-part-...
How It Could Happen, Part Four: Crossing the Linehttp://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-it-could-happen-part-...
How It Could Happen, Part Five: Dissolutionhttp://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-it-could-happen-part-...
Until China completes the construction of the port facilities in Pakistan -along with the highways, rail lines, and pipelines that will connect it to China- everything that China does in the areas of the world that lie west of the Straits of Malacca can be cut off by the US Navy.
"Imperial" China has been making very big long term investments in the extractive industries of Africa. The slowdown in the economic activity in America and Europe has led to a slowdown in economic activity in China, pushing out the point in time when these investments will actually generate a profit.
It is likely that China foresees using its base in Djibouti just as America has used its base in the same area: A launching pad for Special Forces to suppress domestic uprisings among the African peoples in whose territories they have vested interests.
The Chinese colonialization likely won't include trying to improve the genetic stock of the African race.
Maybe this is the cue for Senator "Death to Civilians" McCain to fly out on a friendly visit.
Nice legend for the map. Cu is not iron , and Fe isnt hydro electric.
Djibouti will also be the entry port for China's African Silk Road route, via Yemen - I can also feel a Birim Island rail and road bridge coming on, built by Chinese contractors, to straddle the Bab-el-Mandeb straight - floating caisson bridge anyone?
Next stop Oman and another Straight of Hormuz rail and road bridge to Iran, maybe via UAE and Dubai, but maybe not. This will link up with the China-Europe Silk Road route, probably a hub in Tehran to offer a Caspian branch to Russia.
After all, China used more cement in the last 3 years than the US in the last 100!
From Africa, these Silk Road goods will be resources and finished products that are now too expensive for China to make. I think Iran could be a strategic wholesale hub for all kinds of stuff made and dug up in Africa and China, as they can transit goods in four directions.
Just the start. Soon all Pentacon Kill Industries global "real estate" portfolio, like the Federal Reserve itself will be signed over to China in lieu of debt that USSA can never hope to pay. The good part of course is that USSAN death technicians might be offered gainful employment for the new world power.
How will the Chinese deal with islamic lunatics who say convert or die?
Nice, USSA surely needs some company over there..
Colonize is a funny word to use. If you put every military base as colonizing, USA colonized entire Europe and half Asia. It's pretty safe to say half the earth has been colonized by USA.