Alarm grows at China’s influence in East Timor
Mark Dodd; 16/4/08
Impoverished East Timor has signed a $28 million deal with China to buy two advanced patrol boats in a move that will alarm Australia and Indonesia about increasing Chinese influence in the struggling nation. The deal was signed on April 12 by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Secretary of State for Defence Julio Pinto and Hao Yantan from the Chinese defence company Poly-Technic. China has been steadily increasing its presence in East Timor. It is involved in oil and gas exploration and was responsible for compiling a geological survey of the half-island state. China has also recently built a massive Foreign Ministry office on Dili’s waterfront.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23547135-2702,00.html