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6:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

Question for ya

Okay, very serious and extremely important question here lol So… if you have long hair, what do you do with it? Not while out and about, I’...

Observations at the Homestead gubernatorial debate

5:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00HbtbfjrRUFAfs3xK0lj2wOzBvcBQWaUZ7OFTElCvJFmXdqPYSPYccSZk3zEnjVMXY3vD_YbFkCGbAzTiDB95jPHVVNjPfHV5zeCTfdxQE5LIMTh1o_q_wtiqLJ8C17DZ-mMGc25_GU/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362587583604724690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00HbtbfjrRUFAfs3xK0lj2wOzBvcBQWaUZ7OFTElCvJFmXdqPYSPYccSZk3zEnjVMXY3vD_YbFkCGbAzTiDB95jPHVVNjPfHV5zeCTfdxQE5LIMTh1o_q_wtiqLJ8C17DZ-mMGc25_GU/s400/1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <i>The Homestead early Saturday morning.</i></div><br />We arrived early at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs for the Virginia Bar Association (VBA) gubernatorial debate between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli after leaving home at 8:00 Saturday morning for the leisurely, one-hour drive over the mountains.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetj2gwn2naco7g7lwdKS6OgbSIFuUNs5yNFDndkaqTzMQ7TaNg-mffJCQLxxFM6O7SaAj9Mg9BAn1Sw9K8DxHRbQccmtkXshNKOaLa_jy_c8pAK5ScdbDW5uA2bKdNxEdhqNDl4XLLCXi/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetj2gwn2naco7g7lwdKS6OgbSIFuUNs5yNFDndkaqTzMQ7TaNg-mffJCQLxxFM6O7SaAj9Mg9BAn1Sw9K8DxHRbQccmtkXshNKOaLa_jy_c8pAK5ScdbDW5uA2bKdNxEdhqNDl4XLLCXi/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Everyone and his brother has written about the debate and there's not really much more I could add to that so I'll pass along some out-of-the-way observations....<br /><br />Ken Cuccinelli ... walking in George Allen's boots? Were those cowboy boots he was wearing with that lawyer suit on Saturday?<br /><br />Chris LaCivita, part of the Cuccinelli's entourage for their pre-debate mike check, dropped his name tag in the hallway. Yellow ... all access ... hmm. Wonder if I could get away with it? Tried to get his attention as he hurried away so retrieved the name tag and handed it off to Cuccinelli campaign  manager Dave Rexrode in the ballroom. With an all access pass ... oh, the places I could go?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8VZf3m0SYsQBq-Iw1t_xV_IppF6_VoRhxnqysxzaxRKSabc9jXCKfkXErhyphenhyphen0Fcr7X2przm88IOV4VA1cRNqCkjLaYZXmcVRbB5boMLCDg_HTKuvI_Hs-sPJ1ej1S3WWqljo68RIxhgiw/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8VZf3m0SYsQBq-Iw1t_xV_IppF6_VoRhxnqysxzaxRKSabc9jXCKfkXErhyphenhyphen0Fcr7X2przm88IOV4VA1cRNqCkjLaYZXmcVRbB5boMLCDg_HTKuvI_Hs-sPJ1ej1S3WWqljo68RIxhgiw/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Pre-debate was a flurry of activity as media worked to get set up. This is a community where many knew others as they called greetings to one another. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ue-h3GeLEQ60dd3iJYc9U_QOLDTMITzFN5mAtvaweqcHin01Yf-lkt0PjlmUEBEEb-8EBkDTv71UO3AFzi3i6lBjrrm7MZfyFmII_oHlxCVR0-7sgBNzjKhmsPCb-S6NGyfDUM9AsKke/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ue-h3GeLEQ60dd3iJYc9U_QOLDTMITzFN5mAtvaweqcHin01Yf-lkt0PjlmUEBEEb-8EBkDTv71UO3AFzi3i6lBjrrm7MZfyFmII_oHlxCVR0-7sgBNzjKhmsPCb-S6NGyfDUM9AsKke/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mike Stark</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Cue the "Twilight Zone" music ... sitting at the table in front of me was Mike Stark. If you don't recognize the name, you weren't blogging in 2006. We've jostled on the blogging front lines -- liberal Democrat versus conservative Republican -- throughout the years so I asked to get his photo to prove his presence to my fellow SWAC bloggers. He was congenial as we discussed issues like energy and Obamacare ... kind of a surreal feeling.<br /><br />Brian Coy with the McAuliffe campaign came by press tables to meet everyone and hand out a fact sheet. A young man with America Rising, the Republican youthful outfit, stopped by with an information sheet and introduced himself. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhTHN_1CJtS_kX-zDY9N7UUhSGmg5rsdbT6I2A_mpo3IZQkU1vCLdGhZfQOyNoMpX-Y9ffHrYgiOTfO5gb-kVdCRmYLIgIjt3OP21akG8-h3X3AbJd1vpy_cxorhdd5LfGsu4PccEVjxi/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKhTHN_1CJtS_kX-zDY9N7UUhSGmg5rsdbT6I2A_mpo3IZQkU1vCLdGhZfQOyNoMpX-Y9ffHrYgiOTfO5gb-kVdCRmYLIgIjt3OP21akG8-h3X3AbJd1vpy_cxorhdd5LfGsu4PccEVjxi/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bob Brown, photo-journalist, Richmond Times-Dispatch</i></div><br />As always, I enjoyed sitting with local political reporter Bob Stuart from the <a href="http://www.newsvirginian.com/">Daily Progress/News-Virginian</a>. Look for his a<a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/virginia_politics/gubernatorial-candidates-duke-it-out-in-homestead-debate/article_f57a1c4c-f1a6-11e2-88e3-0019bb30f31a.html">rticle about the debate in Sunday's paper</a>. Bob Brown, longtime photo-journalist from the <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/">Richmond Times-Dispatch,</a> was there -- love his work so stopped by to say hi and chatted a moment with him. There was no sighting of the TD's political writer Jeff Schapiro. His bow tie was missed.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aua3Q1CTnOgwny1PB7VrjlHlze_tkPWJZtOGLlnPtZF7eGXRVkK6tBeEEEswzR2NPgOqN1Nj5XJYSaot8oWgitPVNKrQ9nsNXIDxWWJGaSn8MlHHnPDNj6d378eZ4vec46AmO0Uex2db/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aua3Q1CTnOgwny1PB7VrjlHlze_tkPWJZtOGLlnPtZF7eGXRVkK6tBeEEEswzR2NPgOqN1Nj5XJYSaot8oWgitPVNKrQ9nsNXIDxWWJGaSn8MlHHnPDNj6d378eZ4vec46AmO0Uex2db/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ellen Qualls</i></div><br />Bob pointed out Ellen Qualls, who kind of made her name working with Mark Warner and is now a consultant to the McAuliffe campaign, was standing nearby. State Senator Creigh Deeds was seen in the audience.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSiuSi2tzj6hYepauJYA0dbUQW_4DJ2q9ewE6yb0AmJ6IrsKKn8u8cNhEySD_StUcUmcMgGrfu_ZMeiBGTZ3d-4xdz9XiAJdRXmiwK4-aHXUOAJNzzIxWwDKmehqFwqyiEz6BZS84U5hb/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSiuSi2tzj6hYepauJYA0dbUQW_4DJ2q9ewE6yb0AmJ6IrsKKn8u8cNhEySD_StUcUmcMgGrfu_ZMeiBGTZ3d-4xdz9XiAJdRXmiwK4-aHXUOAJNzzIxWwDKmehqFwqyiEz6BZS84U5hb/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The debate began with introductions of the candidates and then intro of Judy Woodruff, co-anchor of the "PBS NewsHour." There was a slight hiccup when Ms. Woodruff offered the podium to McAuliffe to begin opening statements, only to be told by Cuccinelli that he was to be first. She apologized and tossed it over to him. Later in the debate, Cuccinelli again corrected Woodruff's question rotation. Awkward.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETdMJTNLbupSvXZ33WxVpOb99KPHnyNTW0lHSr3f5HlV-cTLUjVPF4dR4mTxxIGJgV_lxPpQ4NoLealgmy_PPIMYp6QC0cQGSE_HRxUExFAv3kHPlf_Kd7Pg2WZzDxZeATfK3iQoyGBb0/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETdMJTNLbupSvXZ33WxVpOb99KPHnyNTW0lHSr3f5HlV-cTLUjVPF4dR4mTxxIGJgV_lxPpQ4NoLealgmy_PPIMYp6QC0cQGSE_HRxUExFAv3kHPlf_Kd7Pg2WZzDxZeATfK3iQoyGBb0/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Afterward, both candidates offered a brief interview opportunity for the media. In the middle of the cluster pictured above was Terry McAuliffe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1rU_QKlDucAaGXVNO5BORg9pb3majGeQI-i5XeXRtlBtZT-ecbRN9rXaZkAi1GtzFVB3Qzhc5SGCPcRj_Fr5mWRpDDBerfyQnAsMjSLVtdzj-2DVSmdrH03H43YIYAkNZEpsZOw6E2-L/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1rU_QKlDucAaGXVNO5BORg9pb3majGeQI-i5XeXRtlBtZT-ecbRN9rXaZkAi1GtzFVB3Qzhc5SGCPcRj_Fr5mWRpDDBerfyQnAsMjSLVtdzj-2DVSmdrH03H43YIYAkNZEpsZOw6E2-L/s400/1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />As I was leaving the ballroom after the debate, Libertarian candidate <a href="http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarian-candidate-for-va-governor-robert-sarvis-beats-margin-in-poll">Robert Sarvis</a> was outside the doors greeting folks. I got his photo and talked briefly with him, asking how he felt about not being included in the debate and if he hoped to be in future ones.  He was upbeat and said he's working to make that happen.<br /><br />Just down the hall stood Greg Letiecq in the hallway talking with someone so I patted him on the arm as I passed. NoVa was in the house.... <br /><br />Heavy media coverage. Extra tables were brought in after all seats were taken.<br /><br />Someone's cell phone went off at 12:25 on Republican side of ballroom -- it was playing some kind of country song that went on for several seconds while Cuccinelli was speaking -- another awkward moment.<br /><br />Many thanks to Marilyn Shaw with the VBA who does a great job year after year of communicating with the press and including bloggers. The Homestead was gorgeous, as always. Another year, another VBA debate tucked away into the archives. It's less than four months until election day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi7KBZZc5qM8SIx94La3TSBDnmLSvEgEHy70m-tF348eFsVm-GP3-mt1QJ7bpHKtBO_6NRR3ehIuvDlHGD5AJ39zIKxg6iILE6iOkcldsmliFmWyEI6CMREblE5cJuXrm7YG6ptTjlHH0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBi7KBZZc5qM8SIx94La3TSBDnmLSvEgEHy70m-tF348eFsVm-GP3-mt1QJ7bpHKtBO_6NRR3ehIuvDlHGD5AJ39zIKxg6iILE6iOkcldsmliFmWyEI6CMREblE5cJuXrm7YG6ptTjlHH0/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I never tire of the drive to the Homestead on the back roads of western Virginia. Those who know me know I have to post the obligatory rural photo, this one taken near my home as I started out on my morning journey to Hot Springs. Hay bales, mountains, chicory ... serenity.<br /><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />July 20, 2013

Observations at the Homestead gubernatorial debate

The Homestead early Saturday morning. We arrived early at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs for the Virginia Bar Association (VBA) gubern...

U.S. House schedule for Monday, July 22, 2013

4:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>MONDAY, JULY 22ND</b></u><br />                                On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00  p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will  be postponed until 6:30 p.m.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>One Minute Speeches</b><br /><br />                                 <b>Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:</b><br />                                 <blockquote>                                <b>1) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350099-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 697</a></b> - Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act<i><b> </b>(Sponsored by Rep. Joseph Heck / Natural Resources Committee)</i><br />                                <br />                                <b>2) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350100-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 1300</a></b> - To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the  volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of  national wildlife refuges, and for other purposes<i> (Sponsored by Rep. Jon Runyan / Natural Resources Committee)</i><br />                                <br />                                <b>3) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350101-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 1411</a></b> - California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act of 2013<i> (Sponsored by Rep. Jared Huffman / Natural Resources Committee)</i><br />                                <br />                                <b>4) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350102-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 2353</a></b> - To amend title 23, United States Code, with respect to the operation  of vehicles on certain Wisconsin highways, and for other purposes<i> (Sponsored by Rep. Thomas Petri / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)</i><br />                                <br />                                <b>5) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350103-6846703" target="_blank">H.Con.Res. 44</a></b> - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Ground for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run<i> (Sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)</i><br />                                <br />                                <b>6) <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350104-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 1542</a> </b>- WMD Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2013<i> (Sponsored by Rep. Patrick Meehan / Homeland Security Committee)</i><br />                                 </blockquote><b>Special Order Speeches</b><br /><br />                                 <div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY </b></u><br />                                Rules Committee meeting on “<a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350105-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 2397, Department of Defense Appropriations Act</a>”<br />                                (Monday, July 22nd, at 5:00 p.m.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=350106-6846703" target="_blank">Printable PDF</a>

Congress Eric Cantor U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House schedule for Monday, July 22, 2013

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor.... MONDAY, JULY 22ND On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for mor...

Today's Teamster News 07.22.13

3:32 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=171074" rel="nofollow">Centerplate and Teamsters Reach Agreement for Employees at AT&T Park, Other SF Venues: New Pressure on Local 2 UNITE HERE to Bargain in Good Faith</a>  San Francisco Sentinel   ...Centerplate, one of the largest hospitality and concession companies in North America, and San Francisco’s Teamsters Local 853 recently announced the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement for 200 retail and food service employees working at AT&T Park, Candlestick, and the Cow Palace...<br /><a href="http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/07/12/walmart-whos-dependent-on-food-stamps-cheapskate-corporations/" rel="nofollow">Who’s dependent on food stamps? Cheapskate corporations</a>  MSNBC   ... A majority of food-stamp families with an able-bodied adult do work, and more than 60% of such families work when they have children. They just don’t get paid enough to feed their families...<br /><a href="http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/07/16/dennys_restaurants_settles_foreign_workerssuit_for_14_million.html" rel="nofollow">Denny’s restaurants settles foreign workers’ suit for $1.4 million</a>  The Star   ...A group of temporary workers from the Philippines who worked as cooks and servers at Denny’s restaurants in B.C. have won a settlement worth $1.425 million that is the first of its kind in Canada...<br /><a href="http://americanmanufacturing.org/blog/americans-favor-action-chinas-cheating-including-currency-manipulation" rel="nofollow">Americans favor action on China's cheating, including "currency manipulation." </a> manufacture this   ...64% of voters think China's currency manipulation has "cost American jobs..."<br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/19/detroit-bankruptcy-unconstitutional/2569481/" rel="nofollow">Legal battle brews over Detroit bankruptcy</a>  USA Today   ...Friday's legal wrangling marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy bankruptcy process that will involve more than 100,000 creditors, which include the Police and Fire Retirement System and the General Retirement System and its 20,000 retirees...<br /><a href="http://www.straight.com/news/402631/big-medias-push-extreme-new-internet-censorship-rules-stalls-secretive-trans-pacific-partnership-talks" rel="nofollow">Big Media’s push for extreme new Internet censorship rules stalls secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership talks</a>  straight.com   ...Big Media lobbyists and unelected bureaucrats are holding closed-door meetings in Malaysia this week, as they continue secret talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)...<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23373731" rel="nofollow">Amid Greek austerity, plunder of priceless treasures</a>  BBC News   ...The financial crisis in Greece has already had far-reaching consequences for many people, but now it is claiming a new casualty as some of the country's ancient treasures become a target for thieves...<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/20/arts/design/detroits-creditors-eye-its-art-collection.html?hpw&_r=1&" rel="nofollow">Detroit’s Creditors Eye Its Art Collection</a>  New York Times   ...As Detroit files for bankruptcy — the largest American city ever to do so — the impressive collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts has become a political bargaining chip in a fight that could drag on for years between the city and its army of creditors, who have said in no uncertain terms that the artworks must be considered a salable asset...<br /><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/19/news/economy/g20-tax-multinationals/index.html?iid=SF_E_River" rel="nofollow">G-20 backs new tax rules for big firms</a>  CNN Money   ...For the first time in decades, the world's biggest powers look ready to close loopholes that big companies exploit to pay little or no tax...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/latest-census-global-fortunes-mo-money-1" rel="nofollow">The Latest Census of Global Fortunes: Mo' Money for the 1%</a>  Alternet   ...The surveys of wealth-management groups show that the super-rich are gobbling up an ever greater share of the world’s bounty...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/raymond-c-offenheiser/americans-working-poor_b_3583894.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003" rel="nofollow">New Oxfam Poll: Most Americans Believe We Should Help Working Poor </a> Huffington Post   ...America's poverty rate is now at its highest level in two generations, and many Americans are in jobs that do not pay a living wage. 100 million of us have a hard time putting food on the table, and almost half of America's children live in poverty or near poverty...

Today's Teamster News 07.22.13

Centerplate and Teamsters Reach Agreement for Employees at AT&T Park, Other SF Venues: New Pressure on Local 2 UNITE HERE to Bargain in ...

CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

2:51 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHdi9ZKhj9w9h3cwlXMXXX7mZ4QUBtNtRHOEJOYhT2UC2U_PdZIASrcI7jz5L4GA7GjICHfhjcuchwlZ2X3n-6eI5UgGVkHCe_OVX_S5Rbcip4jXoKEuNcxDvsiFj8-OqGwsENQcBcoo-/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHdi9ZKhj9w9h3cwlXMXXX7mZ4QUBtNtRHOEJOYhT2UC2U_PdZIASrcI7jz5L4GA7GjICHfhjcuchwlZ2X3n-6eI5UgGVkHCe_OVX_S5Rbcip4jXoKEuNcxDvsiFj8-OqGwsENQcBcoo-/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></b></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 653px;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">  <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 489.55pt;" width="653"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA DISCOVERS THE MEDITERRANEAN</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  <br />  Fernand Braudel, maybe the most important historian of the MEDITERRANEAN   region, wrote that "the MEDITERRANEAN is not a border, but a place for   trade". <br />  <br />  This sentence is true for all the METR countries (MIDDLE EAST, EUROPE,   TURKEY, RUSSIA) but also for those far countries, like CHINA, which have   strong interests in the MEDITERRANEAN. The so-called Arab Springs and the CHINESE   penetration in the region challenge the position of those analysts who   theorized the shift of the fulcrum of trade routes toward the   "East". As the UNITED STATES, the unique long-standing superpower   of the post-Cold War era, has gradually withdrawn from the MEDITERRANEAN,   according to these readings, it follows a loss of centrality of the whole   region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S   ECONOMIC POWER LIES IN MARITIME TRADE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  Doing business across the MEDITERRANEAN is still relevant for some of the   "rising powers", such as CHINA. The pride of CHINA'S fluvial trade   and exchanges started centuries before WESTERN kingdoms sought to explore and   exploit the world. Still, the rise of Westernized warships and sea power was   made possible because of CHINESE navigational innovations. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNi89L-bUdI1BEv0sZwTrRjv1yEwlEKdzI3RTRvS6Bob_t0R4gTRva9vTPKpNLpuNDFNztJZwZHwpbLmm-IanzEX0IxjZB7yge4KwppCvx2-QT6an8vs-TgNeSp8RxxbHv8GlTmlEsqVDb/s1600/stock-footage-mediterranean-sea-a-chinese-cargo-ship-leaves-china-loaded-with-containers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNi89L-bUdI1BEv0sZwTrRjv1yEwlEKdzI3RTRvS6Bob_t0R4gTRva9vTPKpNLpuNDFNztJZwZHwpbLmm-IanzEX0IxjZB7yge4KwppCvx2-QT6an8vs-TgNeSp8RxxbHv8GlTmlEsqVDb/s320/stock-footage-mediterranean-sea-a-chinese-cargo-ship-leaves-china-loaded-with-containers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  Even today, CHINA'S economic power lies in maritime trade and, then, in CHINESE   long projection eastward and westward. Maritime trade secures CHINA with   everything the country needs for its economic growth, especially oil and   energy sources. But maritime trade is also important for trading goods,   acquiring new markets. CHINA and the MEDITERRANEAN are linked by two reasons:   oil and markets. Keeping stability in the region and in its fluvial corridors   are, then, crucial points for the CHINESE strategy towards the MIDDLE-EAST. <br />  <br />  <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND MENA   COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO GROW, GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF STRONG CONVERGENT   INTERESTS</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the CHINA - MENA (MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA) Forum   held in DUBAI in April 2012, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific   Research of the UAE, Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, said that relations   between CHINA and MENA countries are expected to grow, given the presence of   strong convergent interests. </span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><h3 style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt;">Background Information: </span></h3><h3 style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt;">MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY </span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  The relationship that CHINA is building with MENA counties depends on the   high rate of CHINESE economic growth, penalized by the spread between   domestic supply and demand for energy (gas, oil and natural resources). For   their part, ARAB countries find it convenient to buy CHINESE consumer goods   and also machinery and technologies which are essential to trigger local   development strategies. <br />  <br />  CHINA has surpassed the UNITED STATES in consumption of oil and, according to   the latest estimates, its needs amount to 6.2 million barrels per day (bpd). Trade   between CHINA and the MENA countries (including IRAN) grew by 37% between   2003 and 2007 and by 21% between 2007 and 2011, reaching a peak of US$263   billion. This was partly achieved through replacing EUROPEAN supplies but   also by pushing local producers out of business (such the textile sector in MOROCCO). </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAgYNYVut8NqWjQ537rjVt402O4S2RDQw0DHi5TualR_X7Po3yd1QgAY8s1GRHf1bWzl1XAxnulxmpk_jhgcZ2tLB6B4bPX0t-gsOB2-byNNqOxilk0kj2L9UlPxucyaUqbShrahD4PvQ/s1600/Fig-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAgYNYVut8NqWjQ537rjVt402O4S2RDQw0DHi5TualR_X7Po3yd1QgAY8s1GRHf1bWzl1XAxnulxmpk_jhgcZ2tLB6B4bPX0t-gsOB2-byNNqOxilk0kj2L9UlPxucyaUqbShrahD4PvQ/s400/Fig-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Main Maritime Ports of Container Traffic</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  In some MEDITERRANEAN countries, imports from CHINA have increased rapidly,   especially in oil-producing nations. CHINA is the second-largest exporter to ALGERIA   and LIBYA, above ITALY and GERMANY. <br />  <br />  CHINA is also leading the exports from these countries, currently held by FRANCE   in ALGERIA and by ITALY in LIBYA. Given their lower per capita income, MEDITERRANEAN   countries' imports from CHINA have not grown as much as in GULF countries   but, in any case, the growth of CHINESE exports has been significant and   fast, starting with textiles and other low price consumer goods and then   moving to advanced products like consumer electronics, telecommunications,   and vehicles. <br />  <br />  ALGERIA imports considerable volumes of vehicles from CHINA and its presence   in this sector is particularly relevant in EGYPT. The development of economic   relations has not been limited to trade. The role CHINESE construction company’s   play is also very important, particularly in ALGERIA where they were awarded   the major share of infrastructure contracts. <br />  <br />  Among the MENA countries, CHINA'S key partners are Gulf Cooperation Council   (GCC) countries, EGYPT, SUDAN and ALGERIA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IMPROVEMENT   OF CHINA - EGYPT RELATIONS, THE QUINTESSENCE FOR CHINESE CARGO VESSELS INCREASINGLY   UTILIZING THE SUEZ CANAL</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><br />  <br />  The GULF area is particularly important as, currently, CHINA imports 35% of   its oil needs from the GCC while the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES alone absorb about   40% of CHINESE products exported to MENA (for a value of $32 billion per   year). By 2015, it is estimated that CHINA and UAE will exchange goods and   services for nearly $100 billion. <br />  <br />  EGYPT is a key country because of the passage of the CHINESE cargo ships   through the Suez Canal. Today, it is estimated that only 60% of the CHINESE   maritime traffic passes through the Red Sea, while the remaining part reaches   the EUROPEAN ports, such as Rotterdam, sailing around AFRICA. Since this   route is a much more expensive in terms of time and costs, the improvement of   CHINA-EGYPT relations could open new opportunities with respect to the   transit of CHINESE cargo for the shortest route. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M1vfLjCGkxHVlGzJH67Bt9YcCJxXPvZh3QwCChFENZ9_yNxQHdSLP5YD3zPPAb3jsxMPFl3_ukEs6QLD-B417ftyx_Gkufv0K5tUWF2JkfisH8kfn26jdAu4YQviyTiV0uSDYCOmPiuE/s1600/L_5196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M1vfLjCGkxHVlGzJH67Bt9YcCJxXPvZh3QwCChFENZ9_yNxQHdSLP5YD3zPPAb3jsxMPFl3_ukEs6QLD-B417ftyx_Gkufv0K5tUWF2JkfisH8kfn26jdAu4YQviyTiV0uSDYCOmPiuE/s1600/L_5196.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  A wise way to follow this improvement could be the so-called "relocation   strategy", that is creating industrial facilities for transportation in   the MENA region, in order to free CHINA from the danger of the crisis of   overproduction and to facilitate recipient countries that can lessen the   dependence on import-export economies, producing goods by themselves. <br />  <br />  Pursuing this strategy the CHINA-ARAB States Cooperation Forum held its fifth   Ministerial Conference in TUNISIA. During the conference, Yang Jiechi, CHINESE   foreign minister, spent a lot of words on how to deepen strategic cooperation   and promote common development http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.htmlwith   ARABS. In April 2013, the EGYPTIAN government signed an investment agreement   with CHINESE TEDA corporation to develop part of a joint industrial zone near   the Suez Canal. <br />  <br />  Furthermore EGYPT seeks cooperation with BRICS because of the strong will to   turn Suez from a passage for sea traffic that brings in $5.2 billion annually   to an investment zone that would in time earn $100 billion. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EGYPT IS   CHINA'S FIFTH-LARGEST TRADE PARTNER IN AFRICA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  EGYPT and CHINA agreed to move forward their strategic cooperative relations.   <br />  <br />  "CHINA", Xi stated during a meeting on the sidelines of the fifth   leaders' summit of BRICS countries held in Durban, "accords great   importance to EGYPT'S status and influence as a major ARAB, Islamic and   developing state". EGYPT is now CHINA'S fifth-largest trade partner in AFRICA.   In 2009, CHINA was the main foreign investor in EGYPT, exerting an important   role in supporting economic growth when the country was affected by the   decline in EUROPEAN imports and investment. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mN2KgVPY_FHHw5_RzKlTvbAJkD4Yx56ptlkShIXX0oGuRBpYppLpRyMw3lRMlBuuet5rjKSUbpJEh9z8iOmJNZOWc-kd8sagl2GEC7Phr2UPFNm7TQlo-JOyKKEwHX1fyDHUuSGxLcUe/s1600/Fig-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mN2KgVPY_FHHw5_RzKlTvbAJkD4Yx56ptlkShIXX0oGuRBpYppLpRyMw3lRMlBuuet5rjKSUbpJEh9z8iOmJNZOWc-kd8sagl2GEC7Phr2UPFNm7TQlo-JOyKKEwHX1fyDHUuSGxLcUe/s320/Fig-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2011, bilateral trade volume stood at $8.8 billion, a 26.5% increase with   respect to the previous year. In the same year president Hu Jintao announced   his four-point proposal: deepening political relations; promoting trade and   economic cooperation; expanding human exchanges; and strengthening multilateral   cooperation in international and regional affairs. Moreover CHINA provided EGYPT   with a $200 million loan, and promised to encourage CHINESE entrepreneurs to   invest in EGYPT. </span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CHINA AND AFRICA</b></span><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE   SECRET WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US FOR AFRICA'S OIL RICHES</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CHINA’S   WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html</a>  and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A THIRD OF WORLD TRADE PASSES THROUGH   THE MEDITERRANEAN</b>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINESE exports reach the EUROPEAN and AMERICAN markets by   the routes that pass from SUEZ and then to GIBRALTAR. Along the route passing   south of AFRICA, rounding the CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, are transported 12.2 million   TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the standard gauge of container capacity)   compared with 15.3 TEU crossing the MEDITERRANEAN. <br />  <br />  In this perspective, the MEDITERRANEAN ports, in GREECE, ITALY, SPAIN, but   also in the ARAB countries, represent important strategic outposts. The port   of Piraeus is just one of the links in the chain from CHINA to EUROPE via the   MEDITERRANEAN that Beijing is trying to strengthen with success. <br />  <br />  CHINESE companies invest across all the MEDITERRANEAN ports and even in the   port of Naples, where the CHINESE Cosco has established a joint partnership   at 46% with MSC. There is no doubt that CHINESE investments have economic   logic but there is even less doubt that the economic operations of Beijing   have geopolitical implications, in terms of growing CHINESE influence in the MEDITERRANEAN   basin and then the METR area. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S NON-INTERFERENCE   POLICY AT STAKE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjH42kKGcwjxa0PIA0vZH7Gz0_RvHgMqyeUr0J2E3e2CXMjOD3IM5zQRvPnt8t681-msw-R6rneQuDnwqdVhLF9K_DT9J2pG9CL_kFlV4hBA-ToVTr39SJQ6O8b10-UJVb_9Gfz1dWs00/s1600/450px-Chinese_Industrial_Zones_in_Africa_2011.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjH42kKGcwjxa0PIA0vZH7Gz0_RvHgMqyeUr0J2E3e2CXMjOD3IM5zQRvPnt8t681-msw-R6rneQuDnwqdVhLF9K_DT9J2pG9CL_kFlV4hBA-ToVTr39SJQ6O8b10-UJVb_9Gfz1dWs00/s320/450px-Chinese_Industrial_Zones_in_Africa_2011.png" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Involvement in Africa</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  Moreover, more influence implies more responsibilities and implications in   the internal affairs of recipient countries which are at odds with the   non-interference policy implemented by CHINA previously. <br />  <br />  The case of SOUTH SUDAN self-determination exemplifies the increasing   involvement of CHINA in MENA political problems. Independence for SOUTH SUDAN   took effect in July 2011. <br />  <br />  Sudden troubles between the two parts ranged from defining borders to the   management of oil resources, for which CHINA is the main operator, as well as   the use of the oil pipeline going northward. Oil terminals are located in PORT   SUDAN on the RED SEA, and they are the only channel to export oil produced in   the South. While CHINA has for a long time been a strong supporter of the   government in KHARTOUM, it turned to support the separation between the North   and South.</span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SOMALILAND’S   ROLL IN A POTENTIAL MILITARY CONFLICT BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HALF OF SUDAN’S OIL PRODUCTION IS   EXPORTED TO CHINA.</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA repositioned itself to maintain good relations with   the government of the South, where major oil interests lie. Half of the oil   production in SUDAN (around 490,000 barrels per day) is exported to CHINA.   Most of it is extracted in the South. It is reported also that CHINA has   started negotiations with Juba authorities for the construction of a pipeline   linking oil fields in the SOUTH SUDAN with KENYA. This pipeline would free SOUTH   SUDAN from its dependence on the pipelines going to PORT SUDAN, but it would   damage relations with KHARTOUM, which would lose transit fees on oil produced   in the South. This could also affect relations with EGYPT, with which SUDAN   has had longstanding relations. <br />  <br />  Without doubt, several factors will play in favor of stronger economic   relations between CHINA and the METR area in coming years. First, the slow EUROPEAN   recovery from the international economic crisis will encourage MEDITERRANEAN   countries to diversify their economic relations and further strengthen those   with high-growth markets like CHINA. The political changes that followed the   Arab Springs will also allow CHINA to increase its range of exports and investment   in the MEDITERRANEAN region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S   NEW GEOPOLITICAL POLICIES PRIORITIZES ECONOMIC INTERESTS OVER THE DEVELOPMENT   OF POLITICAL RELATIONS</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  Nevertheless, following the political transformation in the region triggered   by the government overthrows in TUNISIA and EGYPT, CHINA will face challenges   and dilemmas similar to those faced, for many years, by WESTERN countries. A   lesson may however be taken from the recent evolution of CHINESE policy in SUDAN.   CHINA'S new policy toward SUDAN shows that it prioritizes the defense of its   economic interests over the development of its political relations with the   incumbent regimes and, if necessary, it disregards principles such as   non-interference in internal affairs. This may have repercussions on CHINA'S   relations with Arab countries which opposed the separation of SUDAN. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKOQEU4-b4nUrJFCrvR46LmORrial3P4dRqGVlXIKBvQuje28_P2JsII5xyAr4bV4vesAYztewYUL7n4nuN5gYElVS5xzULpPna7FWQLx6w4_HxNTfE0lMY7VGvMeB7uudVKsULk5gU94/s1600/31iht-edheng31-articleLarge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKOQEU4-b4nUrJFCrvR46LmORrial3P4dRqGVlXIKBvQuje28_P2JsII5xyAr4bV4vesAYztewYUL7n4nuN5gYElVS5xzULpPna7FWQLx6w4_HxNTfE0lMY7VGvMeB7uudVKsULk5gU94/s320/31iht-edheng31-articleLarge.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  Another cause of tension, if not a challenge to CHINA'S foreign policy in the   region, could manifest itself in another country where CHINA'S economic   interests are important: ALGERIA. CHINA, as always, upheld the principle of   non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, thus opposing the initiative   of some states to intervene in the ARAB countries. <br />  <br />  However, CHINA has also made clear that it would respect that the people in   the region had the legitimate right to demand political change, and that it   would also support their right to choose a path for development that suits   their national conditions. CHINA has always advocated political methods to   penetrate the area, avoiding violent implications. If the contagion of the TUNISIAN   and EGYPTIAN revolts reaches ALGERIA, as the ALGERIAN president has been   hospitalized, CHINA might find itself in the middle of multiple challenges. </span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Related articles:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CHINA’S   LAND BRIDGE TO TURKEY CREATES NEW EURASIAN GEOPOLITICAL POTENTIALS</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DRAGON   OF THE NEGEV</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Written by Pietro Longo, </i><i>a post-doctoral research fellow at University of Naples   l'Orientale. Expert in Law of the Middle East</i></span> </span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table>

CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

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CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

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