Discuss the Importance of Pak-China Relations. How Does this Relationship Effect the Political and Security Environment in South Asia?

CSS 2013 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | The Importance of Pak-China Relations

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Question Breakdown

This question has two parts. First, discussing the importance of Pak-China relations. Second, elaborating on how the Pak-China relations affect the political and security environment in South Asia.

Outline

1-Introduction

2-Pakistan-China, the Natural Allies

3-The Impacts of Pak-China Relations on the Security and Political Environment of the Region

• ✓Exacerbation of the Regional Disputes
  • Case study: India, countering Pakistan’s growing alliance with China in the region, has increased spending on military and defence in Kashmir, exacerbating the Kashmir conflict.
    
• ✓Providing Fertile Soil for China-U.S. Rivalry
  • Case study: The Pakistan-China alliance in the region, especially in the Indian Ocean, has been one of the factors that has caused fear in the U.S.A., leading to its adoption of the Indo-Pacific strategy.
    
• ✓Promoting the Conflict Between India and Pakistan
  • Case study: Pak-India relations, which have already been set afire, have been negatively affected by Pakistan’s friendly gesture towards China, making India select the U.S.A. to balance the power.
    
• ✓Impacting the Nuclear Security and Peace in the Region
  • Case study:  Pakistan and China have engaged in various nuclear deals, which the West has criticized, for they consider these agreements as a threat to the peace in the region.
    
• ✓Threatening the Cyber-Security in the Region
  • Case study: China, by making close allies in the region, has been trying to sabotage cyber security, posing a threat to peace and prosperity in the region, as stated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

4- Critical Analysis

5-Conclusion

Introduction

Human beings cannot live independently of other human beings. From the Stone Age to the era of globalization, human beings have always needed others in almost all spheres of human life. The same is true for countries as well. The era of advancement and globalization has put a lot of pressure on developing and developed countries to grow socially, economically, and politically. Resultantly, these nations have made alliances, such as military alliances, economic alliances, and diplomatic alliances. One example is the relations between China and Pakistan. Though disliked and being countered by the West and India, for they consider China’s aid and support for Pakistan as a strategic move towards hegemonizing the Indian Ocean and repeating the history, the Pax Sinica, the bilateral relations have brought development in Pakistan, be it social, cultural, economic, or infrastructure related. Having discussed this, Pakistan must work with China to further promote a friendly and peaceful Pakistan and the region.

The Importance of Pak-China Relations

Pakistan and China are primarily known as natural allies in international relations. Since Pakistan’s independence, China has always been supportive, keeping the ship afloat. China has supported Pakistan through economic aid whenever it is in need. Moreover, in BRI, China has provided technological assistance, such as 5G technology, military technology, and infrastructure developmental help. These arguments signify how China and Pakistan can benefit collectively from bilateral relations.

The Impacts of Pak-China Relations on the Security and Political Environment of the Region

Pakistan-China relations have various impacts on the security and political environment of the South Asian region. Some of the most significant ones are as follows.

• ✓Exacerbation of the regional disputes

First, the relations between China and Pakistan have been criticized by the U.S.A. and India on so many platforms, for they fear China getting control of the whole region, Pax Sinica. One of the most significant impacts is on the Kashmir issue. China Has always stood by Pakistan vis-a-vis the Kashmir dispute, and India has never liked this approach of China. To counter it, India has increased its military in Kashmir, about a twelve per cent increase in its military budget, as acknowledged by SIPRI. This, in turn, has led to a worsening of the Pakistan-India rivalry. For example, the attack, Pulwama, and the cancellation of the special status of Kashmir are the consequences and reactions to Pakistan-China friendship.

• ✓Providing Fertile Soil for China-U.S. Rivalry

Second, another significant implication is the growing alliances of the U.S.A. in the Indian Ocean. China, owing to its national interests in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, has made friendly relations with regional countries, including Pakistan. The U.S.A., on the other hand, fears that China having Pakistan as its natural ally in the region might dismantle the former’s power in the area. The U.S.A. has been actively involved in military exercises and agreements with regional states, such as India and other South Asian states, to counter China.

• ✓Promoting the Conflict Between India and Pakistan

Third, Pakistan-China relations have negatively affected the relationship between India and Pakistan. India, being an arch-rival of Pakistan, sees their relationship as a threat to India’s security. India has strengthened its trade with the U.S.A, especially military and technological trade and agreements. As per SIPRI, the trade between India and the U.S.A. has increased by five hundred times, making India the largest trading partner of the U.S.A. Not only this, but the U.S.A. has also been supporting India’s stance on Kashmir and India’s membership in the UNSC. This, on the other hand, poses a serious threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and security, making it a dilemma for Pakistan. This implication seems to exacerbate further, looking at how the issue is being approached.

• ✓Impacting the Nuclear Security and Peace in the Region

Fourth, China and Pakistan have also been involved in sharing nuclear equipment and technology, mainly from China to Pakistan. As per the statement by the IAEA, China has shared nuclear technology with Pakistan, which is a cause of concern for the regional states. Many Western and regional countries have also criticized this, for they consider nuclear cooperation a threat to regional security and peace. The recent development of China’s establishment of two new nuclear facilities in Pakistan has raised many concerns over nuclear safety and the stability of peace in the region.

• ✓Threatening the Cyber-Security in the Region

Last, China has partnered with Pakistan and other regional states, such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, which seems to be a hurdle in maintaining a peaceful and cybersecurity region, as seen by many Western countries through the lens of security and peace. One of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reports states that the number of cybersecurity attacks in the region increased three hundred times in 2020 and is still on the uptrend, proving an obstacle to peace and prosperity.

Critical Analysis

Critically, one can say that Pakistan and China’s relations can be easily understood when the basic ideology, the natural ally behind their relations, is focused on. China had proved itself many times when Pakistan needed it, such as in terms of economic aid, military aid, or diplomatic aid. However, many nations in the region do not like their relations, for they think China is helping Pakistan and other such countries to fulfil its dream, Pax Sinica, which threatens regional countries’ sovereignty and an issue of survival for the West. Resultantly, the U.S.A. and India have specifically criticized China and Pakistan and blamed them for regional security, political and environmental issues on almost every platform.

Conclusion

To conclude, China and Pakistan have been engaged with each other through many agreements and deals, be they political, social, security-related, or diplomatic issues. China and Pakistan have backed each other’s stance when they were in need. However, as said by many scholars, their relations also pose certain security-related and political threats to the region. For instance, it has exacerbated the Kashmir Issue, the security dilemma in the Indian Ocean, Cybersecurity issues, and Pakistan-India rivalries. It needs an hour to solve the region’s problems through diplomatic means and talks.

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