Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

bloomberg.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 91 posts

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#81

Post by eip »

kristianov wrote: post #31
hd4 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Traditional? Not really. The UK or France could be considered traditional allies. Pakistan was more of a conveniently-located 'strategic partner'. I say this as someone of Pakistani origin. The people of Pakistan are hugely skeptical and wary of this 'alliance' and have long felt they have been used, there is deep resentment, so it's not even slightly surprising they are looking to align themselves with those whose r…

Indeed. Pakistan is important to US because of terrorism in Afghanistan, at the same time Pakistan is important to China because of threat of India.

>Indeed. Pakistan is important to US because of opium and mineral wealth in Afghanistan...

FTFY

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#82

Post by blacksmith_tb »

saiya-jin wrote: post #48
hd4 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And before Afghanistan, the Soviet Union. And as you say, the mutual interest in containing the threat posed by India. If anything, Trump courting India as much as he has been doing, at the same time talking tough against China means we have 'interesting times' ahead.

India was never the aggressor, just look at the history. It's Chinese who invaded Indian Himalayan territory and annexed some Indian land. Same with Pakistan - it's them who invaded Indian territory in Kashmir in 1999 in thousands. It's stupid from Chinese to act like there is already hostility between them, when they could act as partners that have literally 1/3 of global population and dominate the region.

India's modern history perhaps, but Indian influence once stretched all across SE Asia. Angor Wat is the largest Hindu temple in the world[1], for example; Bali is all that remains of Hindu control of Indonesia[2]. Though it seems unlikely that the PRC government is thinking in those terms.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat#History 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali#Ancient

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#83

Post by viewtransform »

blacksmith_tb wrote: post #82
saiya-jin wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

India was never the aggressor, just look at the history. It's Chinese who invaded Indian Himalayan territory and annexed some Indian land. Same with Pakistan - it's them who invaded Indian territory in Kashmir in 1999 in thousands. It's stupid from Chinese to act like there is already hostility between them, when they could act as partners that have literally 1/3 of global population and dominate the region.

India's modern history perhaps, but Indian influence once stretched all across SE Asia. Angor Wat is the largest Hindu temple in the world[1], for example; Bali is all that remains of Hindu control of Indonesia[2]. Though it seems unlikely that the PRC government is thinking in those terms. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat#History 2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali#Ancient

Ankor Wat was built by a local king.

No Indian empire invaded or controlled SE Asia. The influence of Buddhism and Hinduism in Bali and Cambodia is testament to the influence of Indian philosophy and belief not might.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#84

Post by Fluid_Mechanics »

tiatia wrote: post #69
coredog64 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Decimation in the original sense of the word?

Yes. But decimation, as far as I know, was something the Romans did to their own divisions for "unsatisfactory" services. But regarding Afghanistan, if you crucify a few thousand men, women and children every day for the smallest offence, resistance breaks fast.

"...if you crucify a few thousand men, women and children every day for the smallest offence, resistance breaks fast."

You would know this, how? Look at the butchery in Syria and tell me how people respond to genocidal despots.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#85

Post by vinay427 »

ryuker16 wrote: post #80
ethbro wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my perspective, India always seemed like a better ally to the American people, Pakistan to the American military/intelligence branches.

India courted the soviets which didn't help.

It's a little more complicated than that. This was mostly a reaction to Pakistan courting the US. Note also that India was first a founding member of the non-aligned movement, which the US was not pleased about. US-India relations improved during the 1962 Sino-Indian war when the US countered Chinese aggression at any cost. They then deteriorated again when the Nixon administration openly supported Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#86

Post by tiatia »

Fluid_Mechanics wrote: post #84
tiatia wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. But decimation, as far as I know, was something the Romans did to their own divisions for "unsatisfactory" services. But regarding Afghanistan, if you crucify a few thousand men, women and children every day for the smallest offence, resistance breaks fast.

"...if you crucify a few thousand men, women and children every day for the smallest offence, resistance breaks fast." You would know this, how? Look at the butchery in Syria and tell me how people respond to genocidal despots.

Ou dear. The looses in Syria a minimal.

By the way, the losses of the US in the Vietnam war were minimal too. They lost 60.000 People. In the 10 years or what, I assume they lost more people in traffic accidents and suicides. Just to put numbers a little bit into perspective.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#87

Post by grinnbearit »

saiya-jin wrote: post #48
hd4 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And before Afghanistan, the Soviet Union. And as you say, the mutual interest in containing the threat posed by India. If anything, Trump courting India as much as he has been doing, at the same time talking tough against China means we have 'interesting times' ahead.

India was never the aggressor, just look at the history. It's Chinese who invaded Indian Himalayan territory and annexed some Indian land. Same with Pakistan - it's them who invaded Indian territory in Kashmir in 1999 in thousands. It's stupid from Chinese to act like there is already hostility between them, when they could act as partners that have literally 1/3 of global population and dominate the region.

The Sino Indian war is more complicated than that,

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/It-wasnt-China-but-...

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#88

Post by kafkaesq »

binarray2000 wrote: post #27
nikcub wrote: post #17

Another traditional US ally re-aligning itself between the two major spheres of influence. The balance will tip further in China's favor as the USA recedes further from global development. What's interesting is if you look at the parallel international institutions that China are developing that will compete with the IMF et al, many of the partners are traditional and very close allies of the United States. For ex. w…

While your analysis is true, it only describes the effects which have lead to today's situation. Here are a few causes: * In late 80's US empire has definitely thrown international law above the board by organizing color revolutions, destabilizing other countries and waging wars * US empire and its vassals (other NATO members) leave a trail of blood where ever they show up * Officially, US military - despite its huge…

In late 80's US empire has definitely thrown international law above the board by organizing color revolutions,

The term "color revolution" didn't exist until the early 2000s.

US empire and its vassals (other NATO members)

NATO countries aren't in any meaningful way "vassals" of the US.

Might I suggest... reading a bit more broadly? To get like you know, a better grip on basic narrative history? Whatever sources you've been drawing from -- it seems you've got the polemics down pat, but your basic geopolitical awareness appears to be quite stunted.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#89

Post by knowaveragejoe »

olalonde wrote: post #10
knowaveragejoe wrote: post #5

I'm not sure why the bottom comment is marked "dead", but it seems prescient to me. Isolationism is exactly what China wants the US to do.

Being off topic probably had more to do with it. Personally, I'm happy to see that the first comment is related to the story and not the predictable China bashing.

I suppose you have a point, as it is just speculation. But if we are being consistent, we should probably admonish the US-bashing as well, since it is perhaps even more irrelevant.

Re: China About to Start $35B of Silk Road Plan in Pakistan

#90

Post by fdsak »

LordFrith wrote: post #76
fdsak wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have lots of issues with this author and article. I am one of the locals from that region. The picture caste in this article is very biased and not acceptable. There are issues but not that bleak as depicted by the author. Specially the things describe about Gilgit and Hunza are not correct. The KKH has greatly helped reduced the poverty and its a vital resource for us and all the remote communities. "Violence has…

Have you read Ted Rall's 2006 book Silk Road To Ruin? I'm interested enough in the opinion of a Central Asia local that I would mail you a copy.

sure that would be interesting
Post reply on HN