Daily Times

Sir: Ever since the inception of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a picture has been crafted which reflects China’s interest in warm waters as a major reason for its activities in Gwadar Port. Well, things are not as simple as they have been portrayed. China’s interest in latter may serve some of its purposes but there is a lot more which she wants to make out of it specially to deal with the bigger threats of USA and its allies.

Currently, China uses a longest route to get access to the oil producing states mainly those included in The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). All is well on this route except South China Sea which hinders the progress of commercial activities and has become a headache for several obvious reasons. Mainly, because of the ongoing disputes over the South China Sea where countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and even China claim their rights because everyone is keen to regulate the key areas of the sea such as Paracel, Spratly and Scarborough Islands as these observe most of the commercial activities. Since, this route acts as a conduit to connect China, Japan and South Korea to the Middle East and Asia; each of the states desires to clutch the control of it to keep an eye and control the commercial activities when required.

Keeping in view the disputes over the atolls of South China Sea and its veiled future circumstance, it was necessary for China to go for an alternative route to get access to warm water and other essential resources such as oil products. To get out of this trouble, CPEC will serve her purpose.

Something beyond warm waters is what China will have it through CPEC. China and Pakistan’s strong influence on Gwadar Port can make an impact on the only route, coming from Strait of Hormuz, used by all the states accessing OPEC countries.

Since India also uses the same route, her oil supplies if disturbed whenever required, can have severe consequences for India. Thus, it acts as a major threat for over arch-rival India. China is also in a need to industrialise its under-developed western part where only 6 percent of her populace lives. Once industrialized, it will also act as a threat to her India as in a case of border tension between both countries, it will benefit China more than India because, at the moment, Chinese Army doesn’t enjoy well-structured infrastructure at its western border with India thus New Delhi has an edge over Beijing.

NASRULLAH ALI BALOCH

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