Pakistan-China strategic relations

Pakistan-China strategic relations

Khalid Mahmood *
n January 1, 2011, in a heartwarming ceremony held in the
Pakistan-China Friendship Centre at Islamabad, yet another gift
from the Peoples Republic of China, the Pakistan-China
Friendship Year was launched. The Friendship Year, which coincides with
the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two countries, provides a timely occasion to take stock of their
bilateral ties which have been described by the most adulatory metaphors
possible. There could have been no better backdrop for this exercise than
the recently concluded visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan
on 17-19 December, 2010. In glaring contrast to the summit level visits
from USA, UK, France and Russia in quick succession confined to India
alone, the Chinese Premier paid back- to-back official visits to India as
well as Pakistan.

In his arrival statement in Islamabad on 17 December, 2010 Premier

Wen Jiabao declared that it was a firm policy of the Chinese Government
to further cement and deepen the strategic partnership of cooperation with
Pakistan, which his visit will push to a new high. Addressing the Pakistani
Parliament on 19 December, 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao lyrically waxed
that the friendship between China and Pakistan is deeply rooted in the
hearts of the two peoples. It is in our blood, and has become our noble and
firm conviction. These sentiments were reciprocated in equal measure by
the rhapsodic Pakistani leadership and people. They stressed that pursuing
friendship with China was the bedrock of Pakistans foreign policy,
enjoying national consensus. The Joint Statement issued at the conclusion
of the visit on 19 December, 2010 expressed the shared view that the
China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation has
gone beyond bilateral dimensions and acquired broader regional and
international ramifications.
This assessment represents the culmination of a process which spans
the last 60 years. The Pak-China relationship has been marked by deep
mutual trust, confidence and understanding, rooted as it is in their strict
adherence to the universally acknowledged Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence and Charter of the United Nations as well as strong
opposition to hegemony of all kinds and hues. Their friendship has been
*

The writer is a former Ambassador of Pakistan.

Strategic Studies

tested in the crucible of time. The two countries have always stood by
each other through thick and thin.
This relationship emerged in a given set of circumstances when the
world was in the grip of Cold War between the capitalist and the Socialist
world, the ideological rift between the two leading socialist states, USSR
and China, had started developing. China was then relatively an isolated
and less developed country and both Pakistan and China perceived India
as a common threat.
However, the context in which this
Lately, the growing
unique relationship took root and
bonhomie between
prospered has been undergoing a change.
USA and India has
Pakistan
became
instrumental
in
facilitating contact between two erstwhile
introduced a new
enemies, China and USA, leading to the
destabilizing element
recognition of Peoples Republic of China
in the region, directly
by USA and the establishment of
impacting Pakistan
diplomatic ties between the two states.
and China.
Following the disintegration of the Soviet
Union, the United States has emerged as
the sole super power, adding to the complexity of its relations with a rising
China. The ideological and territorial conflicting relations between China
and the former Soviet Union have given way to cooperative ties between
them. China and India who went to war with each other in 1962 have since
normalized their relations, the casus belli, i.e., the unresolved border
dispute notwithstanding. Their bilateral trade and economic cooperation is
racing fast ahead. Lately, the growing bonhomie between USA and India
has introduced a new destabilizing element in the region, directly
impacting Pakistan and China.
And China itself too has been undergoing a monumental change.
Following Dengs policy of internal reforms and opening to the outside
world, China has transformed from a puritanical socialist economy to a
system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Or is it now Capitalism
with Chinese characteristics? Resultantly, China has become (after USA)
the second largest economy in the world, whose responsible policies are
indispensable for international financial and monetary stability and to cope
with the challenges of global warming as well as energy and food security.
And as a permanent member of the UN Security Council with increased
military and political clout it has been playing a valuable stabilizing role in
the maintenance of international peace and security and to counter the
.
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Pakistan-China strategic relations

menaces of terrorism, extremism, fundamentalism, separatism and nuclear

proliferation. At the same time, contemporaneously India has been
incrementally acquiring the sinews of a major economic and military
power with resultant enhanced influence in world affairs.
The end of Cold War era saw the crystallization of Chinese foreign
policy propelled by its domestic agenda. Henceforth, the Chinese were
primarily concerned with fostering an international climate of peace and
stability which they deemed essential for wholeheartedly pursuing the goal
of development and modernization at home. They in particular
endeavoured to have friendly ties with all neighbours, including India.
How has this sea-change in the
In the face of
global scenario and within China
affected or is likely to affect the much
unremitting US
vaunted relations between Pakistan
pressure on Pakistan on
and China? One thing is sure that
various counts, Premier
enmity with India no longer
Wen Jiabaos timely
constitutes the main determinant of
assurance of Chinas
their mutual bond. Their relationship
strong solidarity with
has matured from a tactical alliance to
strategic partnership. At the same
Pakistan signals the
time, the inherently latent competitive
continued validity of
if not inimical nature of Chinas
their strategic
relationship with India cannot be
congruence, now
altogether ignored, particularly in the
elevated from the
context of burgeoning Indo-US
bilateral to the regional
relations in the politico-strategic,
military and nuclear fields. Former US
and global level.
National Security Adviser Zbignew
Brzezinski
believes
that
Washingtons decisions to help India with nuclear energy have
stimulated Chinas unease. The US assertive intrusive policies in the
South China, East China and Yellow seas have heightened tension
between China and USA. Here US national interests are pitted against
Chinas core interests. These developments clearly have overtones of
containment of China. According to Rober D. Kaplan, writing in the New
York Times of 12 November; 2010, President Obarnas recent visits to
India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan were about one challenge: the
rise of China on land and sea.
In the face of unremitting US pressure on Pakistan on various counts,
Premier Wen Jiabaos timely assurance of Chinas strong solidarity with
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Strategic Studies

Pakistan signals the continued validity of their strategic congruence, now

elevated from the bilateral to the regional and global level. It may be
recalled that one of the most significant provisions of the Pakistan-China
2005 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good Neighbourliness states
that both countries would support each others efforts to safeguard their
territorial integrity.
On the issue of terrorism, China
Chinas fast growing
and Pakistan are on the same page.
demand for secure
China
appreciates
Pakistans
energy sources and
contribution and sacrifices in the
international
counter
terrorism
commercial outlets for
campaign. It shares the view that
its Western regions,
terrorism should not be linked with
now focus of its
any particular religion or ethnic group.
accelerated
Likewise rejecting double standards,
development drive, has
China believes that both the symptoms
added to the importance
and root causes of terrorism need to be
addressed. The 19 December, 2010
of Pakistans strategic
Joint Statement affirmed the two
geographical location.
countries resolve to undertake
substantive
cooperation,
under
bilateral and multilateral framework, to jointly fight the forces of
terrorism, separatism and extremism.
To undergird the strong strategic ties in political and defence and
defence production fields, it has been agreed to step up cooperation and
coordination in space science and technology, maritime security, climate
change, food, and UN reform. What is equally significant is Chinas offer
to help Pakistan in overcoming its crippling energy crisis. An Energy
Cooperation Mechanism is to be established to promote cooperation in
conventional, renewable and civil nuclear energy. To strengthen ChinaPakistan strategic consultations and coordination, it has been agreed to
establish Annual Meeting Mechanism at the leadership and Dialogue
Mechanism at the Foreign Ministers level. All these steps are
undoubtedly of strategic significance.
Chinas fast growing demand for secure energy sources and
commercial outlets for its Western regions, now focus of its accelerated
development drive, has added to the importance of Pakistans strategic
geographical location. Indeed Pakistan lying astride China, South Asia,
Central Asia and West Asia at the mouth of the Persian Gulf has the
potential of becoming the hub of crisscrossing trade, transportation and
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Pakistan-China strategic relations

energy corridors linking these regions. Chinas participation in the

construction of Gwadar port, 180 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz
through which 40% of worlds traded oil passes, and up-gradation of KKH
amply speak of Chinas realization of the value of linkage with Pakistan.
The potential viability of this gateway becomes evident when one realizes
that the distance between Chinas Xinjiang area and Karachi or Gwadar is
just about 2500 kilometer against its distance of 4500 kilometer from
Chinas eastern sea-board.
There has been growing realization on the part of both Pakistan and
China that the level of bilateral economic and commercial cooperation and
people-to- people interaction is not commensurate with their strong
political and security strategic ties.
The level of bilateral trade stands at a low figure of roughly US$ 7
billion, with the balance of trade heavily tilted in favour of China. Foreign
Direct Investment from China and Hong Kong has been gradually
increasing. About 120 Chinese companies employing 13,000 Chinese
nationals are working on 250 projects in Pakistan in Oil & Gas, IT &
Telecom, Power Generation, Engineering, Automobiles, Infrastructure and
Mining sectors. A joint Investment Company with a paid up capital of
US$ 200 million was launched in 2007. Youth exchanges have made a
modest start. However, all this falls far short of the full potential.
No wonder during Premier Wen Jiabaos visit the accent was on
redressing these lacunae in Pakistan-China relations. The renewal of Five
Year Development Programme for Trade and Economic Cooperation and
Chinas unilateral tariff concessions on additional 286 items under the
existing Free Trade Agreement, which also covers services sector, would
help in achieving the trade target of US$ 15 billion by 2015. Furthermore,
the two sides signed 12 Agreements / Memorandums of Understanding at
the Government level and 22 commercial agreements, total worth $35
billion, on cooperation in the fields of culture, transportation, economic
assistance, media, finance and energy. Agreements to establish currency
swap arrangement, opening of branches of their respective major banks,
enhanced cooperation in Capital Market as well as proposed Special and
Trans-border Economic Zones would prove as catalyst in boosting growth
in bilateral economic and commercial ties.
The Pakistan-China Joint Declaration on Directions of Bilateral
Cooperation signed on November 04, 2003 at the Head of State level had
laid down the future roadmap for a sustained future-oriented all-round
cooperative partnership. The two sides had stressed that considering its
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Strategic Studies

profound popular basis, this relationship be passed on to the future

generations. This resolve has been vigorously renewed during Premier
Wen Jiabaos last visit to Pakistan.
Pakistan-China relations may not
For Pakistan, China
enjoy the uniqueness of the late 60s
remains the closest
and 70s, but Pakistan retains
friendly country and the
importance for China as a reliable ally
most reliable source of
internationally and a factor of security
military hardware and
for Chinas Southern and Western
periphery. The Chinese leadership has
technology, in addition
repeatedly assured Pakistan of the
to its involvement and
special nature of Pak-China relations
support for many
and that they would not be affected by
important projects in
the development of Chinas relations
the defence, heavy
with India. Former Chinese Foreign
industry, energy
Minister Li Zhaoxing had told his
Pakistani counterpart that the only
including nuclear power
country with which we describe our
and infrastructure
relationship as all- weather friendship
sectors.
is Pakistan. For Pakistan, China
remains the closest friendly country
and the most reliable source of military hardware and technology, in
addition to its involvement and support for many important projects in the
defence, heavy industry, energy including nuclear power and
infrastructure sectors. China has a definite interest in Pakistans security
and territorial integrity. This mutuality of interests acquires critical
salience in the fast evolving global power alignments and adjustments.
China and Pakistan were, are, and will for ever be good neighbours,
good friends, good partners and good brothers, thus said Premier Wen
Jiabao. The scintillating history of Pak-China relations leaves no doubt
that this unique, friction-free, time-tested relationship, rooted in deep
mutual trust and confidence, will not only endure but has the potential of
getting stronger and deeper, provided while keeping the strong strategic
relationship in the political and defence fields, more substance is added to
it by way of increased trade and investment and mutually beneficial
economic cooperation as well as greater people-to-people interaction. The
accent should shift to economic collaboration and a partnership for
development and prosperity. Only this way we can ensure to pass on this
profound friendship to the succeeding generations.

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Pakistan-China strategic relations

The recent highly successful visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan

provides a solid basis for way forward. The best measure to judge the
success of the Pakistan-China Friendship Year will be the manner and
speed by which the existing some 275 Agreements! MOUs signed
between the two countries are implemented. Given the committed
symbiotic strategic partnership subsisting between Pakistan and China,
there is no reason to doubt that the Friendship Year will be highly
rewarding, taking their bilateral ties to new heights.

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