China's Mideast clout growing amid Turkey missile deal

Jerusalem Post ^ | 10/16/2013 | Jerusalem Post

[TexGrill]

LONDON - China's likely sale of sophisticated missiles to Turkey over the objections of its NATO allies might have angered Washington and other capitals, but it should not have been a surprise.

Even as the US has spent billions of dollars and lost hundreds of lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, Beijing has been quietly upping its presence in the Middle East.

Militarily, the US - which maintains a permanent aircraft carrier presence near the Gulf as well as dozens of other warships and major bases in Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - is by far the dominant regional power.

China has tended to follow Russia's lead on the Middle East, sometimes appearing sidelined on issues such as Syria.

Beijing's economic, political and diplomatic clout, however, is growing fast. China's Ministry of Commerce said last month China-Arab nation trade now reaches $222 billion a year, 12 times its 2002 level. That would outstrip US-Mideast trade, valued at $193 billion in 2011.

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[Navy Patriot]

While ultra high performance Chinese arms are very young, several systems are showing high promise, and they are associated or primary carrier group killing weapons.

Not really the best of news.