INDIAN OCEAN MAY BE NEXT DESTINATION FOR CHINESE OIL RIG
A massive Chinese oil rig might be heading to the Indian Ocean. The Shiyou 981, a Chinese oil drilling platform that hasbeen conducting activities in controversial waters claimed jointly by both Vietnam and China, is heading south, according to the Vietnamese Coast Guard. A Vietnamese source suggests the platform is likely heading to the Indian Ocean “to implement exploratory drilling under a contract signed between China and a Southeast Asian country.” While in Vietnamese waters the Chinese platform was escorted by more than 110 vessels, including warships and fighter planes, which frequently harassed Vietnamese coast guard vessels and civilian fishermen. The Chinese navy has become increasingly active in the Indian Ocean in recent years, and in recent months China began exploring the Indian Ocean seabed with deep-sea submarines after winning a contract with the International Seabed Authority several years ago. (Tuoitre News January 5, 2015)
BIG STAKES IN SRI LANKA ELECTION
Sri Lanka is going to the polls January 8 and longtime President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing the toughest politicalbattle of his life. Rajapaksa faces an unexpected challenge from a former colleague, Maithripala Sirisensa, who has rallied the opposition and gained support from a former president and prime minister. Sri Lanka has been a focal point for Chinese engagement in the Indian Ocean littoral over the past decade, and the election could have implications for a latent rivalry between China and India in the region. Indian analyst Nitin Gokhale says Sirisensa and co. are “not exactly well-disposed towards Beijing.”
Between 2005 and 2012, China provided $4.8 billion to the Rajapaksa government, with 98% taking the form of soft loans, mostly for infrastructure projects. India, and the opposition, are concerned that should Sri Lanka be unable to repay the debts, China would gain an equity stake in commercially and strategically vital ports and container facilities in Sri Lanka. A Chinese submarine and warship recently docked in Sri Lanka separately, using a terminal operated by Chinese-led consortium under a 35-year right of ownership agreement. Though Sri Lanka has repeatedly insisted China would have no military or strategic presence on the island, some 70 percent of the transshipment business at the Colombo port is India-related and India is concerned about Colombo’s “enthusiastic endorsement of [China’s] 21st Century Maritime Silk Road [Initiative].” The two sides recently inked an agreement to cooperate in “ocean observation, marine and coastal zone management, maritime security, search and rescue and navigation security.” (The Diplomat January 5, 2015)
CHINA HOSTS TALIBAN, MAY PUSH RECONCILIATION
In an unusual step a group of Taliban representatives, including a former minister in the Taliban government that ruled Afghanistan until 2001, traveled to China last month to discuss the possibility of opening negotiations with the Afghan government. It would mark the first time Beijing has directly inserted itself into the Afghan conflict and reconciliation process. An Afghan official insisted the Taliban did not intend to open an office in China but that “the Chinese could provide a venue for talks.” Newly-elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani took his first trip abroad as head of state to Beijing last October. On New Years Day, he said his government had “prepared [the] ground internationally for peace” and singled out “measures with China” as being “hopeful.” Both Chinese and Taliban sources refused to comment on the talks but Afghan officials insisted the Taliban presented their negotiating position, which includes amending the Afghan constitution, control of government ministries, and the removal of the group from international sanctions lists. (Wall Street Journal January 6, 2015)
INDIA, PAKISTAN CONTINUE TRADING FIRE AT LOC
Cross-border shelling that intensified last year between India and Pakistan in Kashmir has resumed in the new year ahead of US President Barack Obama’s trip to New Delhi later this month. Pakistan has accused India of killing four civilians and India said one of its border guards had been killed in recent days. India accused Pakistani rangers of firing rocket-propelled grenades into villages near the border and responded with machine gun and mortar attacks on “about 60 positions” along the Line of Control. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called off peace talks with Pakistan last August, citing Pakistan’s refusal to crack down on known terrorist groups and its refusal to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice. (Reuters January 6, 2015)