Strevitel, you’ve finally made yourself useful by translating Russian. Too bad you never did that at CMF. Keep up the good work 🙂

One of the clearest pictures yet of the Y-8 AWACS with the pancake dome. Solid nose and four blade propeller. Looks like it is a Y-8F400 platform rather than the newer Category III or Y-9 variants.

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

Personally I don’t see why they wouldn’t.

The US considers even a Chinese UN deployment to Haiti* or a Hong Kong company in the Panama as a “threat” never mind a military base.

Actually there is something in it for host nations. The US is paying 150 million USD a year for one of its bases there – I’ll look up which country its in.

Again, only the US and Russia have the carrot or stick to make it worthwhile for the host country in the region.

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GD’s Notes:
* http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040906-123723-3774r.htm
“The official says China’s first military presence near U.S. shores would boost Beijing’s long-term strategy to “supplant U.S. influence” in the region. … “They will assert political influence [through Chinese companies],” the official says. “That is where this is headed.”

Administration officials say the decision to permit the Chinese to join the U.N. force in Haiti was made quietly, without a full debate among defense, foreign policy and national security agencies. “

It is about power projection in an area that has plagued the major world powers for decades. The difficult mountianous terrain in the bordering countries makes it an ideal location for terrorist or rebel camps. APCS or Armor are among the worst weapon to use especially as most roads are in valleys and easily ambushed. This is why Russia, India, the United States and China want airbases close to potential future targets in the area.

The only countries with “power projection” in the area are the US and Russia. Having a “base” in another nation is an expensive proposition both economically and diplomatically. You can’t have a base anywhere unless you are willing to provide the carrot (or stick) that will allow the host nation to accept you. You also need to expend diplomatic capital to protect the host nation from hostility incurred by your base.

The idea that Tajkistan is willing to allow itself to operate as a base for a marginal player outside of the US or Russia and open itself to a retaliatory attack from third parties is rather ludicrous. There is no gain in it for Tajikistan. The Tajik government itself had denied any base in their country other than that from Russia.

The reaction of the neighbors indicates that there are no bases in the area outside of Russia’s. There is no reaction.

* Politika reports that China is making moves to open a base in some former-Soviet ‘stan.

Absolutely not. China does not put bases in other countries. Not least of the reasons why is to keep the US from complaining of a Chinese “threat.”

China’s influence in the ‘Stans will come through the Shanghai Cooperative Organization.