EVOLVING DYNAMICS OF PAKISTAN–CHINA RELATIONS: IMPACTS ON REGIONAL POLITICS

Abstract

This paper examines the changing political, economic, and strategic relations between Pakistan and China, and how it relates to the countries in the region, South Asia, and others. China-Pakistan relations has intensified in recent decades, especially with its activities such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a showpiece project by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China. This relationship has brought about more economic integration, military integration and diplomatic harmonies with China becoming the biggest trade partner and a major partner of Pakistan in the geo-political arena. But this has been changing with the increasing intensity of Pakistan-China relations, as it has alarmed other nations of the region, such as India, Afghanistan, and the United States. India considers the strategic character of such a relationship, especially when CPEC traverses the contentious lands such as Gilgit-Baltistan, to be a great challenge to its prevailing status in the region. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is apprehensive about the growing dependence of Pakistan on China, as they are afraid that the balance of power will be shifted in the region. Moreover, the U.S. and Western nations have raised their eyebrows regarding the kind of debt the Chinese investments to Pakistan pose, and the possibility of China increasing its grip in the region.

In this paper, the authors will discuss the main motivation of Pakistan-China relations, evaluate the responses of the region, and reflect on the further geopolitical implications of this alliance on South Asia and international politics.