Sajjad Ahmad Khan
Pakistan-China relations are evaluated from different angles. The Western perspective is quite different; it sees this relationship only through the lens of geopolitical considerations. Pakistan, on the other hand, views China as a sincere friend that goes beyond material interests. The friendly ties between China and Pakistan have very strong and durable roots. Pakistan and China established diplomatic ties in 1951, although the relationship was not particularly cordial at first because both nations were preoccupied with their own problems. China was anxious about the situation in Korea, while Pakistan was embroiled with India on the Kashmir issue.
Both countries were struggling with the challenges of the time. It was a very crucial point, as Pakistan had to jump on the US bandwagon. Pakistan sided with the US against communism because it saw its eastern neighbour as an unvarying security risk. Beijing viewed Pakistan’s action with scepticism, but, despite it, both nations were heedful enough not to act in a way that would be detrimental to the other’s interests. It must be noted here that among the non-communist countries, Pakistan was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with China, despite the fact that China’s identity was that of a communist state, while Pakistan was a country with a Muslim identity. By striking an agreement in 1963, Pakistan and China legally put an end to all of their border issues. Chinese military assistance to Pakistan then started in 1966. China was acting as Pakistan’s ally during the 1965 confrontation between Pakistan and India. India was extremely concerned and unable to coerce Pakistan as a result of the partnership between China and Pakistan.
Russia and the United States urged Pakistan and India to follow the Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire after observing China’s unambiguous stance. South Asian peace attempts were strengthened by China’s strategy. The two nations formed a strategic partnership in 1972, followed by commercial and trade cooperation in the year 1979. According to historians, Chairman Mao Zedong twice gave his Foreign Ministry strong instructions to strengthen ties with Pakistan because he believed that these ties were essential to the growth and maintenance of peace in the region. This demonstrates Chinese wisdom and comprehension of the two nations, which, despite having various worldviews, are mutually supportive of one another. Due to their close cooperation and mutual support in a variety of fields, Pakistan and China are frequently described as having an ‘evergreen’ friendship. It is true that the seeds of friendship that were planted between Pakistan and China have grown into a sturdy tree that is impervious to both external factors and the sweltering winds of uncertainty.
The relationship between Pakistan and China has remained steady for many years despite the enormous shifts and changes in the geostrategic landscape. Instead, more strategic collaboration resulted from the launch of construction projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship initiative of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The plan serves as a guide to address the region’s multifaceted challenges, ranging from security to environmental challenges. It goes without saying that CPEC now includes industrial development in addition to transit corridors.
A stable atmosphere has been established as a result of an agreement between China and Pakistan, and this has proven to be highly beneficial. The regional environment has been superbly figured by both nations to offer all the support required for both sides’ security. The fact that both nations respect each other’s territorial integrity and the absence of internal intervention is the most magnificent feature of their relationship. Afghanistan’s unrest and instability have an immediate impact on Pakistan. Because of this, China is making every effort to keep Afghanistan peaceful and advance its economy. Beijing acknowledges Pakistan as a significant player in achieving peace in Afghanistan.
As a result, China provided facilities for peace in Afghanistan at the beginning of 2015. According to reports, ‘China has been Pakistan’s largest trading partner during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2022–23 and the largest investor in Pakistan in the first five months of the fiscal year 2022–23, accounting for 23.83 percent of its FDI, or $102.5 million’. Economists say that China has been Pakistan’s most powerful trading partner for the past few years. Moreover, China has made huge foreign direct investments in Pakistan in recent years. Pakistan’s exports to China has approximately crossed $1 billion in 2022, and agricultural exports have also touched a commendable mark. Apart from this, the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant is an excellent project of international Pak-China friendship.
The series of cooperation between the two countries does not end here; they are helping each other in multiple sectors such as rail transport, nuclear energy, and agriculture. In order to jointly defend regional peace and stability, China and Pakistan intend to intensify and broaden their bilateral military cooperation. Both Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission Zhang Yuxia provided in-depth remarks on this topic during the recently held meeting.
