Entente cordiale: an overview of Pak-China relations

An old civilization; a culture tantamount to the abundance of material and spiritual values; a nation that maintained its individuality and preserved its identity despite innovation; the civilisation that takes pride in many achievements of mankind; the birthplace of gun powder, paper and book printing; the land from where the ancient silk road sprang and through which Buddhism flowed, cultivating the heavenly empire. China.

China is one of the five neighbouring states that Pakistan shares its border with. It has long been acknowledged as the “time-tested” friend of Pakistan. Whilst both the countries celebrate their traditional eastern cultures, their state-to-state relationship is even profoundly congealed to stabilise the geostrategic policies, influencing the geo-political landscape of the region. The authenticity and the faithfulness of both states towards each other’s national interest have also been witnessed at several platforms around the globe.

Since the onset of 68 years-long strategic and diplomatic relationship, China has always acknowledged Pakistan’s chronicled recognition of China’s Republican transition in 1949. China avows Pakistan as an “Iron Brother,” mirroring the exceptional place Pakistan has in the hearts of Chinese people. These expressions, however, are not mere adages but truly reflect the maturity and strength of a relationship constructed over 68 years while advancing into more viable collaboration.

As Chinese response to a new era is adherence to the concepts of advancements, cooperation, coordination, openness, and innovation; it will keep on advancing its coordinated development of economy, politics, society and culture. However, in this regard, it will be opening new avenues and opportunities for the friendly neighbouring states like Pakistan to encourage a relation based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

However, the evolution of this unprecedented relationship between both nations owes its beginning to the vision of the initiative of the leadership of the two states, who put together the relationship on the core values and philosophies of peaceful coexistence and cooperation. As promising neighbours, China and Pakistan keep up close correspondence and coordination on regional and territorial issues of concerning nature.

Economically, China has turned out to be Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner while Pakistan turns into China’s one of the largest investment destinations

China has in every case and at every occasion immovably upheld Pakistan’s development and of anti-terrorism security initiatives

Pakistan solidly underpins China on the issues of Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang and different core issues vis-à-vis China. Likewise, China resolutely bolsters Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moreover, China also extends its support to Pakistan on the issue of Indian Occupied Kashmir and a plebiscite mainly in line with the UN resolutions.

Economically, China has turned out to be Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner while Pakistan turns into China’s one of the largest investment destinations with a bilateral trade reaching almost 18 billion dollars. Whereas in the field of defence, China’s helping hand is extended to all three respective forces and the nuclear boggy of Pakistan. For instance, setting up of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Heavy Industries Taxila, and maritime ventures for the Navy and missile factories. The creation of JF-17 Thunder jet fighter Kamra stands apart as a momentous collaboration and cooperation between the two nations.

Although the deadly attacks on the twin towers quickly delayed the developments in the Pak-China ties and Pakistan was obliged to temporary fad with the US. But the ascent of the Chinese economy and the developing apprehension of American hostile pragmatists has ultimately resulted in more grounded association between the US and India. In this regard, closer Pakistan-China ties have just turned out to be a natural occurrence. The friendship has, thus, transliterated into the brotherliness of the late and was displayed when Chinese President Xi avowed his visit to Pakistan as a “visit to brother’s home;” something the first president Zhou envisioned.

Nevertheless, as the US aid begin to decline and Washington appears to be more averse to stretch out its economic and financial favours to Pakistan following President Trump’s new ‘South Asia Policy’; China continued to expand its impressions of ‘iron brotherhood’ in the nation, especially through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the flagship project of the Chinese Belt Road Initiative (BRI).

CPEC itself is an iron project. To help Pakistan transform into a noteworthy overland route connecting western China and traversing old Mesopotamia into Europe, China planned to invest multi-billion dollars for the network of roads, railways and higher capacity ports in the aforesaid project (CPEC). The work on which is heading at a steady pace towards completion. The project will not only shorten the distances but also help Pakistan building a strong economic base.

To conclude, all the prophets of the doomsday who speculate the venture and the growing ties of Pakistan with the emerging economic power of the world, a shadow of cultural imperialism must acknowledge the fact that Pakistan already shares a history with the two cultural giants of the world since its inception i.e. India and China and a decade or so in the progress and development of a nation is merely a brink of an eye.

The writer is an independent researcher