The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the new eye-catching economic project for the region. According to experts, this project has the ability to alter the overall geo-political and economic fate of the region. South Asia, more specifically the subcontinent, has always remained a vital source of economic growth for foreign nations. The historical evidence is more than clear in this regard. From the East India Company to French invaders, every foreign nation had tried its level best to extract the best from the subcontinent, in form of natural resources or cheap labour force.
Since independence in 1947, both Pakistan and India engaged themselves into a long-lasting conflict over Kashmir. This conflict not only changed the regional hierarchy, it also affects the socioeconomic prosperity of the people. Due to this conflict three wars have been fought between the two neighboring nations, and it seems that the era of proxy wars and forces would never end in the region.
In these circumstances the foundations of CPEC has been laid down. It seems that the amount of investment involved in CPEC is more than enough to alter the economic fate of Pakistan. This implies that the hegemonic role of India in the subcontinent or Asia is on stake. The two major players involved in the project can affect the Indian supremacy; the overall regional balance may also shift from one side to another if Russia also gets involved in the project. These are the concerns of many Indian economic and political analysts. These concerns also raise some serious questions about the role of CPEC in promoting regional integration. In this situation, CPEC’s effectiveness as an economic project is also on stake.
The road project is the most essential part of CPEC. Two roads are expected to be built on the eastern and western front in Pakistan for easy access to the Gwadar and Karachi ports. This means that in the future most of the Chinese trade from the northern side will take place from Gwadar. This will automatically raise the importance of Gwadar, not only as a city but also as a port. The Chinese access to Gwdar port will also give opportunities to the Chinese naval force to extend its covering area in corporation with Pakistan. Till now China and the USA have been involved in conflict over the water territory. This further explains the reason behind the concerns of the Indian and American establishments over CPEC.
In this scenario, regional integration looks impossible through CPEC. Iran has also illustrated its interests in promoting the Chabahar port as the rival port to Gwadar. Although Iranian government has also showed interests in CPEC, but on the other hand, the Chabahar port is also on its way to compete with Gwadar.
The direct or indirect involvement of all these major players in CPEC is quite enough to understand the importance of the project. Regional integration is more than necessary for the people of the subcontinent, and also of Asia. According to World Bank’s last report in 2015, Asia is world’s most populated continent, and the population of this continent is growing very rapidly. This implies that in the coming few years the region will require more economic growth and prosperity to counter the population boom. The role of China is very vital in this regard.
China’s hegemonic role in the region is not debatable. Although India and China are playing against each other to clinch the top position, but both of these nations are also enhancing business co-operation. So China must ensure India that CPEC is not against any nation; it is a project for the overall social and economic wellbeing of the region. Regional or territorial sovereignty of any specific nation would not be affected through CPEC.
The geopolitics of the subcontinent suggests that this kind of thing would never happen. The war over hegemony would go on. In this situation, it is vital for both China and Pakistan to extend co-operation at the world level to identify regional advantages of CPEC. And its importance should also be explained to the world.
Regional integration cannot take place unless and until the neighbouring nations start co-operating with each other. Regional co-operation would be helpful to counter the economic evils like poverty, unemployment and inflation. As nations started to cooperate, their war expenses would go down, which in return provides the opportunity to invest on human beings.
The need of the hour is to change the overall image of CPEC, or to present a positive look of CPEC to the world. More specifically, regional nations should not feel that this project would give them any kind of territorial or economical harm. Yes, it is true that CPEC would provide an overwhelming opportunity of economic growth to Pakistan, but that does not mean that after the completion of this project Pakistan would start to bother neighbouring nations to accept its ‘hegemonic’ role in the region.
Till now, CPEC’s fate lies in the hand of China and Pakistan. It is vital for both the nations to work together to re-identify the economic image of CPEC to the world. This project must not become a reason of any new proxy war. The region has seen many proxy wars and is still bearing the consequences. Regional integration is vital for prosperous and strong South and Central Asia. More importantly, government of Pakistan, especially ministry of foreign affairs, should present the case on an international level. The project would not completely resolve the economic problems of Pakistan, but it is expected that it would provide that necessary economic ignition that we have been looking for many years.
The writer is a freelance columnist, and can be reached at [email protected]