Past and future
Pakistan was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China soon after its establishment in 1949. The leadership on two sides realised early that their interests in the region coincided despite their different systems. In view of the hostility with India Pakistan needed a strong friend in the region. China which was subjected to encirclement by the US and its allies was keen to create a dent in it with the help of a friendly neighbour. For years the PIA was the sole airline of a non-communist country flying to China. Pakistan helped break the ice between China and the US by facilitating the secret meeting in Beijing between the then US National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and the Chinese leadership. The factor that kept Pak-China relations stable over decades was that the two countries conducted bilateral relations strictly in conformity with the principles of non interference.
Over the years China has helped Pakistan develop sectors where few were willing to invest on the terms that suited Islamabad. The projects include nuclear power plants and Gwadar deep seaport. Recently an agreement has been brokered to construct a multi-billion dollar Pak-China Economic Corridor to connect China’s northwestern autonomous region with Gwadar which is Xinjiang’s nearest sea port. With the US imposing sanctions on Pakistan in the 1990s Pakistan China cooperation gradually developed an overarching strategic dimension.
Terrorist attacks inside China by militants trained in North Waziristan were seen by Beijing as a grave threat to its stability. The Chinese feared that delay in action against terrorists could provide them space to relocate themselves around the proposed economic corridor. The complaints from China were an important additional factor that strengthened Pakistan army’s resolve to launch operation Zarb-i- Azb.
While further strengthening relations with China, Pakistan must give priority to its own national interests. These require improvement of relations with India and other neighouring countries. Similarly, Islamabad cannot afford to ignore its ties with the US and EU who support Pakistan’s democratic aspirations.
We as Pakistanis should know that China’s influence as a growing economic power can wield substantive support to Pakistan in the decisions made by international financial institutions. Such support can go a long way in helping Pakistan fight its way out of its financial distress, and in getting the desired foreign investment.There is a lot of potential for extending relations between Pakistan and China. In the present geopolitical and geostrategic dynamics, Pakistan and China need each other more than ever. The economic ties between China and Pakistan need to be strengthened on a war footing and beyond rhetoric. We need to identify areas of priority, where mutual growth can take effect efficiently.
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