Torpedoing Russian-Kyrgyz Friendship

Vladimir Muchin, Nezavisimay Gazeta (in Russian) | July 26, 2010

Following the New START Treaty with the United States, the "Shkval" torpedo is more important than ever to Russian naval defense. ++ Key components are manufactured in Kyrgyzstan, where control over the factory has become an important bargaining chip of interim President Otunbayeva's dealings with Moscow. ++ Yet the Kyrgyz are dragging their feet. ++ This may well be due to Chinese efforts, since it is more of "a realistic geopolitical goal for China rather than the Americans" to sabotage the process.