China expansion

The excellent article on the Chinese empire misses one point, which is that China, by invading and conquering Tibet, has control of the most important rivers in Asia.

This was pointed out by George Ginsburg many years ago and of course only affects the mainland countries of Asia.

By developing its harbour in Hambantota in Sri Lanka and the one in Gwadar in Pakistan, China will have India surrounded.

The Chinese lending to Tonga may open Tonga’s waters to Chinese fishing and also its airspace both of which would be of strategic benefit. Tonga may get a very nice new port and airport!

The goings on in the South China Sea indicate how focused China can be and the difficulties of Fonterra in China indicate that they play hardball much better than us.

These promise to be interesting times.

Neville Cameron, Coromandel.