FORK TONGUED PALEFACES

Bruce Riedel, a former CIA man and now affiliated with a Washington think-tank is no friend of Pakistan. This much was always clear from his writings. Now an article written by him and published in India’s Hindustan Times seems to indicate that he is no friend of India’s either. What he has proposed as an agenda for India’s new Prime Minister could lead to a disastrous situation in South Asia.

Mr Riedel and many others in the think-tank community are in a time warp. Their mind sets have not changed. They refuse to believe that countries like India and Pakistan can ever think straight and that they are forever condemned to stew in their own juices. They cannot see the changes sweeping the region or refuse to see those changes because if they did how would they justify the dire predictions that they need to make to stay in their think-tank jobs. There are many such experts around. One of the funniest sights on the Track II circuit is a group of eminent Indians and Pakistanis sitting around a table in discussions moderated and funded by Western think tanks with a ‘paleface’ telling the ‘Indians’ what is good and what is not good for them. Sad but true.

Chinese satellite navigation system plans to provide global services by 2020

A Chinese rival to the U.S. global positioning system network has started providing services in China and the surrounding area.

The director of China’s satellite navigation system office, Ran Chengqi, told reporters Tuesday that the Beidou navigation system is offering services including positioning, navigation routes and time. 

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Pakistan - China to build even stronger ties

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday expressed their resolve to further strengthen bilateral ties in economic, defence and energy sectors for the mutual benefit of two countries. The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) here in Petersburg, discussed the whole gamut of strategic and economic cooperation between their countries. They discussed the matters relating to agriculture, power generation and finance, besides reviewing progress on Sino-Pak bilateral ties. The meeting, which was scheduled for 40 minutes, lasted for more than an hour. Chinese Premier Wen reiterated his government’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He underscored the importance of time-tested strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, an official told APP.

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Ask West: Why China has to be what it is in your illusion?

By Li Hongmei 

In a wide-ranging news conference on the sidelines of China's annual sessions of National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi spoke of China’s financial aids to some debt-ridden European countries with deep feeling. He was cited as saying, "it is hard for China to do anything. When we offer help, they would find fault; but if we stand by and look on, they would also pick holes."

To the West----No Decry, Distort or Demonize China

When we were labeled as "Sick Man in East Asia", You held us in contempt calling us "Yellow Peril";

When we are catapulted to Stardom and expected to be next super power, You finger point us to be "a major threat".

Then we were forced entry by your Opium and Big Gun, and forced open to Your smuggling and looting;

Now we offer to open to you and are ready to embrace free trade, but you accuse us of robbing the "rice bowl" of you.

Then we were precarious like a candle guttering in the wind, Your "iron heel" mercilessly treaded on our sovereignty yelling "Share Interests evenly"; 

Now we stand up for our territorial integrity and sovereignty, You come out braying "China Aggression" and "Free Tibet".

Then it was Communism that saved the Chinese nation from extinction, You cursed between your teeth at such a sizable nation of Communists;

Now we try the market economy, You are also enraged for us accepting the idea of "Capitalism".

When we had a population of 1 billion, You said we were destroying the Earth;

When we set limit on our growing population, You immediately wield the stick of "Human Rights"

When we were impoverished, You put us in the same class of "beggors";

When we better off and lend huge sum of our money to You, You would complain we make You a miserable "Debtor".

When we started to develop our Industry, You accused us to be a "Bad Polluter";

When we can sell "Made-in-China’ products to You, You said we are held chief responsibility for "Global Warming".

When we purchase oil, you would say we are exploiting and "cleansing" races;

While when you launched War for oil, You bragged it was all for ‘salvage of the people". 

When we were in the days of tumult and chaos, you said we were barbaric and lawless;

We are now ruling by Law, You would never mince your words when saying we are "abusing human rights." 

When remained reticent and laid low, You said we should have "Free Speech";

When we raise our voice and loudly say No, You would remark we must be brainwashed and xenophobic.

Why You hate us so, ----We wonder,

"No, we never hate you", You might reply.

Neither do we hate You;

But, Do you really understand us? And how much?

"Yes, why?" You will always boast about Your free access to news from "AFP, CNN, and BBC…"

But what you want us to be?

To this, we do not need your reply----

Because enough is enough:

The world has seen enough of hypocrisy.

We hope to see "One world and one dream" and the shared peace.

The Blue Planet, spacious and tolerant, belongs to You, and to us Chinese.

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10:02, March 08, 2011

The articles in this column represent the author's views only. They do not represent opinions of People's Daily or People's Daily Online.

 

Currency swap: President stresses swift progress

Published: March 11, 2011

Zardari emphasises the need for early finalisation of a currency swap agreement with China.
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has emphasised the need for early finalisation of a currency swap agreement with China, saying such arrangements should also be made with Turkey and Sri Lanka to promote trade.
He was speaking during a meeting at the President’s House on Thursday. Briefing the media, the president’s spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said that State Bank Governor Shahid Kardar gave a briefing on progress made so far on currency swap arrangements with China.
Talking about Turkey and Sri Lanka, he said that Turkey has responded positively to such arrangement, adding that a Pakistani delegation recently visited Sri Lanka and held meetings with the State Bank of Sri Lanka governor.