Sino-Pak Cordiality: An enviable target

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

Despite the dramatic changes in the international and regional environment in the post cold war world, Sino-Pak relations have not really registered any set back. Frequent assertions of mutual trust and confidence coupled with the convergence of national interests have facilitated the regular positive growth. Even the differences of the political systems have never impeded the upward trend in Sino-Pak relations. The intriguing question is that how Sino-Pak relations maintained such an enviable cordiality? What are the factors that consistently cemented their relationships?

The involvement of a major power in any region or with a specific country is basically a product of two principal categories of vital interests; those related to her global position as a great power and those associated with the area in the context of foreign policy. For a small or a medium power the major consideration for forging closer ties with each or any of the great powers often stem from a desire to correct the regional imbalances of power and to accelerate its economic development processes. Identical ideologies and complimentary nature of interests make it easier for both the great as well as small or medium powers to come closer to each other. Shifting perceptions of the global and regional interests, however, can not only vitally affect the durability of a given setting but also give birth to a new sets of relationships and re-arrangements of mutual relations.

Pakistan's relations with the great powers have also been changing in order to accommodate emerging geo-political realities that were partly the product of shifting perceptions and accompanying policies of the great powers and partly because of changes in domestic and regional environments. Among the emerging reality that directly impinges upon us is the growing Indo-US ties. Eager to jump into the laps of the Americans, the Indian quickly endorsed the missile defense related plans. A motivational analysis point towards three factors that could tremendously influenced the India's somewhat rash decision; anticipated US support for permanent UN seat, likely defense linkages with the Americans and another chance to further distance US from Pakistan. Armitage's cynical and irresponsible remarks about Pakistan's nuclear programme while keeping mum about India's vastly ambitious nuclear programme merely bears testimony to changing regional policy of the Americans.

Sino-Pakistan relations are often described as all weather and time-tested. Compared to Pakistan's relations with other great powers, its relations with China has demonstrated remarkable consistency and an enviable level of cordiality. While there seem to be many factors that have contributed so regularly towards the cementing of Sino-Pak relations, five deserve to be discussed here. First, the Sino-Pak relations have never experienced any kind of set back from either side. Not only both countries developed complete mutual understanding but also supported each other on many major international issues. Whatever agreements they signed or evolved an understanding between them, they always lived up to the expectations of the other. Compared to China there is no dearth of western countries that have either let Pakistan down or wriggled out their commitments in one form or the other. For instance the American did not live up to the expectations of the Pakistanis in 1962, 1965 and 1971 despite the existence of various defense alliances. Similarly the French wriggled out of their commitment over the supply of reprocessing plant etc. If one attempts to find similar let downs in Sino-Pak relations, all efforts are invariably frustrated. Being very pragmatic people, the Chinese seem to make their moves rather carefully.

Second factor that has indeed contributed so significantly towards strengthening the edifice of trust is the strict adherence to the principle of non-interference. Since the acceptance of the guiding five principles of coexistence, neither side ever tried to interfere in others domestic affairs. Again if one compares it with some of our western partners, the examples of interference in the internal affairs are not too difficult to identify.

Third important development cementing Sino-Pak ties revolves around people to people contacts. Founded in the 1960s and initially in Lahore, Pak-China Friendship Association has indeed played a key role in bringing the people of two countries closer to each other. Recognizing such contributions the Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji during his recent visit to Lahore specifically called for further stepping up of people to people exchanges and encouraged contacts between the non-governmental organizations and business communities.

The contributions of the fourth factor are so enormous and so visible that it really does not need much focus to make the point. These deals with the help the Chinese have extended over the years in order to expand and rapidly develop our defense productions. With the Chinese collaboration Pakistan was soon able to establish Heavy Industries at Taxila, Aeronautical Complex at Kamra, upgraded and further expanded facilities at Pakistan Ordinance Factories at Wah. Bilateral relations in the defense sector are continuously strengthened by a regular exchange of military delegations. Premier Zhu Rongji's expressed resolve to continue China's defense cooperation is certainly reassuring and comforting

Indeed one needs to recognize the inadvertent contributions of India as the fifth significant factor. While it is true that neither Pakistan or China have allowed their mutual relationships to become hostage to any other set of their country's relationship, it is indeed difficult to ignore the involuntary contributions that India makes so regularly. India's policy to make inroads among the traditional friends of Pakistan coupled with Chinese desire to foster a climate of peace and stability deemed to be essential for Chinese pursuits of faster economic development and modernization need to be seriously subjected critical evaluation. While one need not to worry about China as sufficient assurances have been highlighted even during the recent trip of the Chinese Premier, the consistent Indian efforts to weaken and undermine the ever-growing Sino-Pak ties should always be subjected increased vigilance.

Despite Pakistan's close ties with China, the network dealing with trade and economic relations have not been very impressive. The signing of six agreements and one Memorandum of Understanding covering areas like infra-structure, public sector enterprises and private sector cooperation would indeed make the existing ties far more comprehensive and as a consequence further strengthen relations. The link that was established thousands years back via the Silk Road is still continuing through what has become a lasting symbol of Sino-Pak friendship, the Karakoram Highway. With the consistent and continued up gradation of ties, the incumbent cordiality has certainly become somewhat an enviable target. Such cordiality can only be maintained if both parties regularly undertake a soul searching exercising asking themselves what have they done for the other party. Since the cardinal principle of international relations is the security and advancement of one's own national interest, parties involved need to avoid treading on other's national interest and make continuous efforts to facilitate and if possible to further strengthen the existing complementarities.