Daily Times

One of the most discussed, debated and controversial issues in the contemporary politics of Pakistan is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In April 2015, Chinese President Xi’s visit to Pakistan resulted in the signing of 51 agreements, with an approximate value of $ 46 billion. Since then, the CPEC and Sino-mania are beyond limit; a great deal of gratitude is expressed towards China and any argument against the CPEC, no matter how rational or logical, is rejected shrewdly by the central government. Thus, once again, another sacred cow is in the making and, consequently, advocates of regional concerns should get ready to be dubbed ‘fifth columnists’.

Keeping in view the general attitude of the masses of Pakistan, who have blind faith in good fortune and believe in external remedies for internal problems, it is no wonder we see that the project has been envisioned as a salvation for all miseries, deprivations and shortcomings. I do not doubt the time tested Sino-Pak friendship that is built on mutual trust but such emotional and catchy terms must be analysed objectively. Friendship with China has nothing to do with issues of fair distribution of resources among the federating units.

It is the constitutional right of every Pakistani to seek transparency and fair distribution of resources. The CPEC is the result of the dealings between two sovereign governments, not a product of para-diplomacy between China and the provincial government of Punjab. In this short piece, an attempt has been made to analyse if the CPEC is a project specially designed for Pakistan, what Pakistan is offering in response and to determine if it is ‘blasphemous’ to have an objective evaluation of the project within Pakistan.

The CPEC is the flagship project of China’s grand strategy of One Belt One Road (OBOR) designed to strengthen trade partnership by connecting Asian states with Europe and the Middle East. Furthermore, this initiative is aimed at developing infrastructure, increasing people-to-people contact and regional connectivity. China took the lead in establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and also created the New Silk Road Fund (NSRF) in order to revive the ancient Silk Road in the 21st century. The OBOR has cost $ 1.4 trillion, an amount 12 times larger than the Marshall Plan, which was about $ 120 billion in today’s value. As part of the OBOR, China will build 81,000 kilometres of high-speed railway, more than the current world total, involving 65 countries.

In the words of Wan Yi, China’s foreign minister, “If One Belt, One Road is like a symphony involving and benefitting every country, then the construction of the CPEC is the sweet melody of the symphony’s first movement.” Thus, it is a concrete reality that the CPEC is part of the OBOR initiative. Considering the geostrategic location of Pakistan, the CPEC connects the northern and southern parts of the OBOR. Additionally, China, through Gwadar port, will have access to two oceans. The premier exit of the People’s Liberation Army’s navy and the South China Sea is troublesome and at the core of global focus. In such a scenario, Gwadar becomes strategically as well as commercially important for China. In Karachi, China has already started submarine development, which according to some will be nuclear in a joint venture with Pakistan.

The OBOR is aimed at promoting the economic prosperity of the countries along the belt and road, regional economic cooperation, strengthening exchanges, mutual learning between different civilisations and promoting world peace and development. It upholds the five principles of peaceful coexistence: mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

The proposed OBOR is believed to speed up the development of western China and the revival of the ancient Silk Route. As said by Wang Yi, the spill over effect encircles all the states around the road and the belt. The flagship project of the OBOR — the CPEC — will not only increase the efficacy of trade potential for China but also bring fruitful results for Pakistan. Execution of the CPEC at the right time and in the right way will demolish doubts and critiques regarding the OBOR, thus paving the way for successful implementation of the rest of the project.

Western regions of both China and Pakistan are lagging behind mainstream national progress. Social strife and militancy in these areas are a challenge that must be curbed. Regional connectivity, transformation of ideas, cultural amalgamation and enhanced participation of people from these areas will help defeat the separatist mindset. Eastern, western and central, all routes will be passing from the land of Pakistan; nevertheless as promised the project should benefit the marginalised areas of Pakistan.

Owing to the strategic depth of Pakistan, eastern alignment would be volatile and vulnerable to the regional actor from the east. The advocates of this route point out the same regarding western alignment but the pragmatic gestures from Iran nullify this argument. Additionally, western route, like the Indus Highway, would be another line of communication and connectivity between the units of the federation, thereby empowering the centre’s ability to be more connected with the federating unites. Unfair distribution and encapsulation of the major share in one province will have negative consequences for Pakistan by invoking resentment among the smaller units.

Right to development is a constitutional right of all the units of Pakistan and deliberate attempts to snub this legitimate concern of stakeholders will provoke a wave of criticism, making the CPEC another Kalabagh. Pragmatic, transparent debate must be allowed to remove suspicions and doubts. The CPEC is expected to offer prosperity and development to the adjoining areas; this can be started from the maximum participation of indigenous human capital and domestic raw material. Only then will the melodious sweetness of the symphony of the OBOR, as said by Wang Yi, will be felt form the beginning to enhance trust and mutual harmony.

The writer is a PhD fellow in International Relations at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Jilin University, China. He can be reached at shahrukhhashmi_ir@yahoo.com