In the 70s era, the then president Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto facilitated the Sino-US diplomatic efforts that eventually ended in US-China rapprochement. The successful backdoor diplomacy opened China diplomatically to the external world accompanied by the veto power status in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).The intimate relations between Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Chairman Mao Zedong marked the beginning of a new phase in Sino-Pak ties. The new phase was emotionally charged, politically cooperative and strategically harmonised. Following Indian orchestrated “Fall of Dhaka”, Pakistan found a strong and reliable friend in the years of despairs against a determined adversary, India. The deeper relations were expressed by the ever lived catchy slogan, “Pak-China friendship is higher than Himalaya, deeper than the ocean, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel”. Onward then, China supported Pakistan in its every thick and thin and even at one particular occasion clearly conveyed to India that any aggression against Pakistan will be taken as aggression against China.
Recently, I had an opportunity to attend the seminar in connection with Belt and Road initiative – CPEC is one of the six BRIl and-based economic corridors. This was a bestowed opportunity to visit and observe the rising China first hand. However, before the visit, I had a rudimentary but rough sketch about China through different western inspired literature and day to day discussions with people from different walks of life. Contrary to my shaped perception, I set a step in different China, a society of Pakistan-loving, with soft attitude and of hardworking people.
In the People’s Republic of China, the interests of the political elites, business tycoons, and other factions of the country are in line with the national interest
Their social structure stands on five principles: mutual caring, one family world, self-examination, convenient suitable, and every being connected. The five principles lead them towards a humble and hardworking life. Apart from many good traits, the instinct of indifference to show off makes the society more cooperative and pleasant. They live very austerely satisfied lives, and a large chunk is unaware of pathetic competition based on conspiracy, at least within. Chinese devotedly and wholeheartedly adhere to their cultural characteristic, adore their history and respect their values.
Similar principles are also embedded in our societal structure, but Pakistani society almost forgot its norms, history and rich cultural heritage.
On administrative aspect, Chinese are stunning from the individual level to national leaders. They keep their streets, houses, shopping malls and thoroughfares clean, decorated by plants, punctuality in traffic flow, and a peaceful society based on justice. They love nature and paying extraordinary attention to it. They think themselves as the children of nature. The massive plantation all-around the country projects their true love for nature.
The fascinating thing is the constructive role of the female in country’s development. Women work in shopping malls, hotels, in fields, as commercial drivers and run their small shops. But it does not mean that they do not have a personal life and do compromise their families. After school timing, children directly come to shops and do their lunch with their mothers, who in turn help them with their homework.
In the People’s Republic of China, the interests of the political elites, business tycoons, and other factions of the country are in line with the national interests. The Communist Party of China takes China as home and its citizens as family members. One unified aim is to work day and night to achieve the highest economic growth in terms of GDP per capita and Chineses oft power. During an interesting discussion with Dr Patrick Dai, general manager of Nanning Good Fortune Heavy Industry Group, summarised China’s national interest and mystery of its success in one sentence:”China concentrates only on economic development, nothing else because only economic development can solve all other problems.”
In Pakistan, sundry perspectives have been taking root in many minds. Even one school of thought compares Chinese investment in CPEC with East Indian Company’s imperialist agenda. The soft image once China used to hold in Pakistani minds and hearts has started to erode through misguided and maligned social media propaganda. The propaganda to malign fruitful Chinese presence in Pakistan has been grasping more and more attention through social media.
Beyond any doubts and suspicions, Chinese investment in Pakistani infrastructure and energy sector under CPEC banner is a blessing, especially given the losses in the war on terror and the absence of significant foreign direct investment. Domestically, corruption and lack of any prudent policy to produce coherent blue prints for overcoming energy crisis and industrial and agricultural development across the country had further worsened Pakistan’s dilemma. In the midst of such turmoil, CPEC became a ray of hope and reinvigorated nation’s enthusiasm.
Being on the other side of the table for a while, let’s assume that the attachment of misdiagnosed concept of the East India company with CPEC investment has a kind of even remote reality. The problem lies with Pakistan then, because China is not militarily threatening Pakistan for signing such agreements. Neither China has the history of “carrot and stick policy”, specifically towards its “iron brother” Pakistan, nor it is practising “Gun Boat” diplomacy. It is mutually agreed and cherished agreement. Nevertheless, some regulatory policies need to be placed to balance the dividend between both states.
Pakistan’s dwindling stature is crying and telling that problems emanate within. Pakistan had been on bad terms with Russia until recently, has never been able to win US trust, and now China’s soft image in public eyes on one hand and Beijing trust on Islamabad, on the other hand, have been vacillating.
Third world states have one feature in common: the corrupt political elites and military’s dominant role in domestic politics. In such states, corrupt political elites and politically ambitious military always prioritise their own interests over national interests. They never take any responsibility for pathetic economic, political stagnation and degenerating social ambience due to their transgressions. Such elements always move around the blame game, pinning their failure on others. Unluckily, Pakistan has been getting through this dilemma for decades.
The writer is an analyst on power politics, security studies and foreign policies of global powers
Published in Daily Times, May 26th 2018.