Today China took control of a naval installation in Gwadar, Pakistan to help secure oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to China as a part of its so-called "String of Pearls" basing strategy. China mainly funded the Gwadar port as a commercial concern by paying over $250 million in 2007 but Pakistani authorities did not connect the port to the local rail and road system making it a commercial failure for the Singapore-based company that transferred control of the port to a Chinese state-owned company today as announced by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari today. The base would give the Chinese Navy better access to the Arabian Sea and is much closer to their oil exporters. Indian Defense Minister AK Antony took note of the transfer publicly and expressed concern of an encirclement of India if all of the "String of Pearls" ports come under Chinese control.
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