China has set its sights on the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station
Under the pretext of stability, external threats, and border protection, China has also set its sights on the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station. Photo: Internet According to the press service of the President of Tajikistan, on September 15, during a meeting between the leaders of Tajikistan and China in Samarkand, the parties discussed “involving the Chinese […]
AZDA TV· Ба дигарон фирист
Under the pretext of stability, external threats, and border protection, China has also set its sights on the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station.
Photo: Internet
According to the press service of the President of Tajikistan, on September 15, during a meeting between the leaders of Tajikistan and China in Samarkand, the parties discussed “involving the Chinese side in the implementation of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station construction project.”
“The Chinese side understands Tajikistan’s concerns about the situation in Afghanistan and the related regional problems and is ready to continue close cooperation in the field of security and strengthening border protection with this neighboring country,” said Xi Jinping.
On the other hand, if the reader begins to read this statement by the Chinese leader regarding “Tajikistan’s concerns” from bottom to top, they will better and more clearly understand the meaning and significance of Xi Jinping’s messages.
In other words, he wants to say that China is ready to help Tajikistan in “strengthening border protection,” “continue close cooperation in the field of security,” and enhance cooperation in this area, on the “condition” that Dushanbe involves Beijing “in the implementation of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station construction project.”
The issue of strengthening military cooperation and border protection between Tajikistan and China is not new. Two years ago, this issue made headlines in the global press. At that time, the news agency Iran International reported in a special report about the presence of Chinese military personnel in Pamir. It was reported that the reason for the presence of the Chinese contingent in Pamir is the strategic highway through the Wakhan Corridor, which will eventually connect China with Pakistan.
Thirteen months after the publication of this report, in October 2021, the Parliament of Tajikistan ratified a document allowing China to build a military base in the Wakhan Gorge of the Ishkashim district of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region for 100 million somoni.
After this report, against the backdrop of the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan, this issue again made headlines. At that time, Emomali Rahmon asked Xi Jinping to help Tajikistan equip 20,000 military personnel, and in return, he would transfer the recently created military base in GBAO to the Chinese army.
At the end of 2021, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan denied information about the establishment of a Chinese military base in the country, stating that within the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Public Security of China, joint tactical exercises between the law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan and China are planned to be conducted on the existing infrastructure of the Special Rapid Response Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region.
According to official statistics, in the first eight months of this year, the trade turnover between Tajikistan and China increased by 82% compared to the same period last year. In addition, China’s assistance to Tajikistan’s economy over the past 30 years amounts to billions of dollars. Preferential and long-term Chinese loans have been provided to Tajikistan totaling more than 2.5 billion dollars.
In early February of this year, for the first time in 30 years of diplomatic and trade relations with Tajikistan, China provided a large amount of communal equipment. The equipment was displayed on both sides of the Dushanbe-Vahdat highway for several kilometers, prompting reflection from everyone.
Today, China owns a large portion of the mines and deposits in Tajikistan, and the country is also investing huge amounts in other sectors of the economy, including goods, building construction, and road repair and reconstruction.
But now, under the pretext of ensuring security and border protection, Xi Jinping has set his sights on the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station, thereby taking control of part of Tajikistan’s energy infrastructure, which raises concerns and leads to the question of what exactly China wants from Tajikistan?
Photo: Internet