By Aymen Ijaz
In the international relations, it is said that there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. Every state follows realism and is struggling for its own survival. National interests are the top priority. Strategic, political and economic goals are achieved by building alliances and diplomatic ties. Therefore in the context of fostering Pakistan-China ties, it is quite evident that Pakistan needs China because of commonality of interests i.e. having a strong ally in the neighbourhood, keeping check to Indian and US influence in the region, creating huge bilateral trade and investment prospects, cooperation in the fields of energy, defence, infrastructure, communication etc. and to stand with each other on international platforms over issues of concerns such as Kashmir, human rights, terrorism etc.
On the other hand, China look up to Pakistan, despite being a smaller state, as an important strategic and regional player. Pakistan, being a peaceful and friendly neighbour is important for China to create space for itself in the region. Pakistan serves as a bridge for China to develop its ties with the Muslim world and the West. Infact, the China-US reapproachment in the early 1970’s was due to efforts of Pakistan. At diplomatic and political level, Pakistan has supported China over Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan and human rights issues.
China realizes that the normalization of relations in the intra-regional nuclear states is imperative to avoid nuclear arms race and nuclear conflict in the region. Hence, Pakistan plays a key role in South Asian nuclear balance and stability. Pakistan being a responsible nuclear weapon state has a prestigious status in the Muslim world and China co-operates with Pakistan in the use of civil nuclear energy and technology.
Pakistan role is also vital for China to fight against terrorism i.e. East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and to work on joint counter terrorism mechanisms for eliminating terrorism threat from its Xinjiang province. China considers Pakistan’s role importance for stability in Afghanistan and in the reconciliation with the Taliban. From strategic point of view, China needs Pakistan to counter US and Indian influence in the region. The growing Indo-US ties are also against Chinese interests as it sees it a US strategy to strengthen India for China’s containment not only in the region but also in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
On economic terms, Pakistan’s geo-graphical location implies great commercial and strategic value for China. Pakistan provides China access to Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and other regions of the world. The development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar port as an energy hub would link Kashgar to Gwadar and open up enormous economic opportunities for both countries. The Gwadar port will provide China access to the Straits of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The Gwadar port would also provide China with an alternative route to Malacca straits in the South China Sea. The CPEC would connect the port of Gwadar with the western provinces of China. The CPEC would open new trade and investment opportunities for China. Hence, it would help in development of these poorly developed western regions of China. China is also looking forward to explore and exploit the mineral resources and reserves in Balochistan. Similarly, through CPEC, China would be able to transport mineral resources and hydrocarbons from Central Asia. The port would also become an important staging area for China’s rapidly expanding and modernizing navy and submarine fleet. Therefore, the CPEC has immense potential for China to trigger an era of regional economic linkages and regional connectivity and that is possible only by co-operation from Pakistan.
China has made Pakistan the central link between its Silk Road initiatives that are designed to advance Chinese interests in Central Asia, the Caspian Sea basin and beyond. These China’s maritime and overland Silk Roads would increase Pakistan’s pivotal importance for Beijing. Apart from this, Pakistan also provides a huge market for Chinese goods and products. Pakistan is the largest buyer of Chinese defence and military equipment. Both the countries hold strong military and defence ties. Hence, it can be concluded that Pakistan-China relations are not only based on mutuality of interests but also on the basis of equality and reciprocity. China’s importance for Pakistan is not one sided but China also needs Pakistan for its global outreach and to achieve its strategic, political, economic and regional interests.
*The writer works for IPRI.