Thunder Strikes Back

Chapter 17 Oil Transportation Lines

Around the same time, a similar national policy seminar was also going on in a base in central and western China. The difference was that this retreat seminar was at a lower level and no important officials were present.

Lin Huaisheng sat in the last row, propped his head up and listened for three hours, and almost fell asleep.On the podium, a very well-known expert on international issues is constantly emphasizing that the United States does not want chaos in the Indian Ocean, so he thinks there is no fuss about the latest conflict, because nothing will happen in the end.Experts have been emphasizing two points. First, the idea that India may fight Pakistan is unfounded.Second, China and India have the same counter-terrorism interests and cannot disrupt this situation.Unable to explain why, Lin Huaisheng disliked this tone very much.

"Since the 70s, the interests of our country have been reconciled with the interests of the United States to seek the maximum value. Why should we challenge the global strategy of the United States? When I said these words a few years ago, some people disagreed. As a result, the Chinese-funded port invested by our country in Pakistan was attacked by militants twice in three days, causing heavy losses. What a painful lesson!" The expert said while knocking on the table, making people feel that he is quite proud of these "lessons".Lin Huaisheng scratched his head, he really wanted to throw the old bastard with the mineral water bottle in front of him.

"Therefore, any unreasonable thinking that focuses on geopolitics is the most dangerous idea. You may not know the dependence of my country's oil on the Indian Ocean route, and you may not know that the frequent attacks on my country's engineering personnel The CIA forces behind the tribal armed forces in Balochistan. So my opinion on the central government is consistent. It must not display its ambitions in the direction of the Indian Ocean. In 1962, our country did not have the problem of oil imports. The situation is different now. The problem of Pakistan is still Why not leave it to the United States?" The expert talked about his views frivolously, as if talking about a very distant place.

"Excuse me, Researcher Gao, what should we do if Pakistan is dismembered and the United States sits on the sidelines?" A colonel in the front row asked the expert surnamed Gao very rudely.

"No, absolutely not. I promise. The United States has enough ways to curb India's expansion momentum." The expert suppressed other people's questions with a domineering attitude, and did not give the necessary explanation.Lin Huaisheng didn't want to ask questions. Talking about international politics is not his specialty. He suddenly wanted to go to the 4157 B project.If the opportunity arises and Pakistan is disintegrated, then it will not be a simple territorial dispute. At that time, India will be so strong that it cannot be shaken. Therefore, he feels that the opinions of experts are quite biased.

The experts' talk is still going on.

"I know that many of you here are soldiers. There is a ridiculous view in the military that the India-Pakistan war is our strategic opportunity. I think I should remind everyone that this is a very unrealistic idea. my country's oil imports this year are close to 3 The main source is Africa and the Middle East. Russia or Venezuela can only provide 15.00% of the oil we need each year. That is to say, most of the oil needs to rely on the Indian Ocean route. The fact is that our country cannot take such a risk risk."

"But our country is discussing the plan to build an oil pipeline in Pakistan's Gwadar Port." The colonel in the front row continued to fight back relentlessly, and he roughly expressed Lin Huaisheng's aspirations.

"Laying an oil pipeline across the Kunlun Mountains and entering the hinterland of our country? I am sure the length is at least three times that of the China-Myanmar oil pipeline, and the investment is more than ten times,"

Lin Huaisheng shook his head. He felt that the experts were deliberately exaggerating the figures.

"Besides, the water depth of Gwadar Port is only 14 meters, which is not enough to dock large oil tankers, so the value of this port is not great." The figures listed by the experts easily dismissed the colonel in the front row, which made Lin Huaisheng feel uncomfortable, but he also There is nothing new to refute this expert.

Whispering began below. Although this expert is annoying, it is undeniable that what he added is indeed an irrefutable fact.It is impossible for the navy to protect oil transportation lines from the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf. If there is a war with India, this is an unavoidable problem.

The basement of the prime minister's residence in New Delhi.

Now is the time for Defense Minister Manmohan Singh to speak.He was talking about the planned battle plan, while Prime Minister Kahan sat aside, smiling and listening to his ministers talk about the offensive.

"Phase 400, which begins immediately, will be prolonged air strikes. We will deplete Pakistan's air force to the maximum, which is an air force of only [-] combat aircraft; but if we continue as we are now, without going beyond the Line of Control It will be difficult to effectively use our advantages if the limited attack is limited.”

"Excuse me, other than limited strikes, it means..." Foreign Minister Chandra interjected cautiously.

"We will hit all targets in depth."

"Deep target?"

"Simply put, all the military airports marked on the map kill their planes on the ground, and they cannot give their planes a chance to take off, land, or be repaired."

"However, the result of doing so is tantamount to declaring war. We will face tougher international sanctions than after the 1998 nuclear test."

"Mr. Minister, at present, the sympathy of the international community is still in our country. Please pay attention to this fact." Prime Minister Kahan spoke suddenly and rescued Singh.

"Think about it, what did the United States do after 911/[-]? Did they show any patience? This is the most normal response to terrorist incidents, and the West will understand." The Prime Minister continued to say disapprovingly.

"Mr. Prime Minister, that's the United States, not India." Chandra's tears were about to fall, and Aspad sat silently by the side. He was a soldier and he didn't have the right to speak now.

"Yesterday, I had a phone call with President Petrov and talked with him for an hour. He fully understands our country's anti-terrorism position. The president told me that the Russian Federation will vote against it in the Security Council at a critical moment. So in the United Nations , there will be no resolutions and presidential statements against India." The Prime Minister said confidently.

"But your Excellency, the Russians often betray their friends, especially with such informal promises." Chandra went all out and began to refute the Prime Minister.

"I firmly believe that Russia will support us. Russia has no interest in Pakistan. Their interest lies in our arms contract. If the conflict causes the price of oil to rise, they will get more benefits." Kahan began to explain his opinion self-righteously, Chandra could not refute such a flawed argument. It was like trying to find the biggest hole in a broken web. It was completely futile.

"Should I go on?" Singh asked the prime minister.

"Please go on," said the Prime Minister. Now most people can see that all the tough lines were instructed by the Prime Minister himself; and Singh has actually gone from a government civilian with only regimental-level command experience, Gradually became the Chief of Staff of the Indian Armed Forces.

"The large-scale air strike will start at 11 o'clock this evening. We have made a careful plan. Our air force will take off from western bases to carry out uninterrupted strikes, so as to offset the threat of several Pakistani elite squadrons. The superiority in technology and technology will be brought into full play, and in a few days, Pakistan will surely transfer their operational aircraft to the airfields close to the Afghan side, so that their air force will not be overwhelmed."

The participants looked at each other in blank dismay. Things were developing so fast that Singh already had a well-organized battle plan. However, there was a major problem with Singh's sloppy strategy. After all, Pakistan is a country with nuclear power.He didn't mention how to deal with it.

"Is there any consideration that they will use tactical nuclear weapons to fight back?" one official asked.

"All nuclear-capable tactical aircraft and missile sites in Pakistan are under our constant surveillance," Singh replied slowly but surely.Many people who participated in the meeting shook their heads, obviously not believing such a guarantee.

(End of this chapter)