Solidifying Ties With China

The POST, Sun, Mar,12, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema


During his recent visit President Musharraf described the Sino-Pak relations as irreversible and vowed to take the broad based ties to new heights. After the formal talks the leadership of the two countries asserted that they would made concerted efforts to further deepen their strategic ties through increased cooperation in political, economic, defense and diplomatic fields. In this connection it has been reported that something like 40 agreements were signed, 13 were signed between the two governments enhancing the multifaceted relations and 27 were inked by the Chinese companies with their Pakistani counterparts.

Over the years many factors facilitated the solidification of their relationships. Among the factors that have contributed substantively more than others include the Chinese assistance in many major projects, past history of cordial relations, no clash of interests, no let downs by either side, regular high level visits and frequent mutual consultations etc. In addition the growing economic engagement along with Chinese cooperation in the defense sector has also been regularly contributing towards the strengthening of mutual ties.

According one report China is involved in more than 100 ongoing projects in Pakistan. Chinese involvement in many of the large ongoing projects such as second phase of Gawadar port, Chashma II, Sandak copper mines development, Gomal Zam dam, Lakhra coal mines and several oil and gas exploration schemes are of particular significance. In the past the major projects such as Karakoram Highway, Chashma-I nuclear power plant, machine and tool factory, several projects of Kamra were completed.

The well established friendship between China and Pakistan has always been a great source of peace and stability in the region. Since 1963 China and Pakistan relations continue to demonstrate, with a remarkable consistency, an enviable cordiality. Despite the dramatic changes in the international and regional environments in the post cold war world, Sino-Pakistan relations have not really registered any major setback. Frequent assertions of mutual trust and confidence coupled with the convergence of national interests and regional situation seem to have facilitated the positive growth. Despite the difference in their political systems and some differences in foreign policy pursuits, the relations continued to grow over the years.

The leaders of both countries have been meeting and visiting each other rather regularly. Each high level visit has further cemented ties between the two countries. President Musharraf’s recent visit is no exception. Not only it has further strengthened ties but has also given a boost in terms of cooperation to the areas that were not given hitherto so many attentions. Linked with the regulars visit is the element of continuous consultation and exchange of view on both regional as well global matters.

While the Sino-Pak relations have often been classified as all weather and time-tested relationships, one cannot help but noticing the not so impressive trading interactions. There exists sufficient space to increase the incumbent level of economic interaction. While there is no doubt that Pakistan is second largest trading partner in South Asia, there is room for a vast increase in trading interaction. The recent visit seemed to have been aimed at beefing up this area. Apart from government to government agreements, the agreements and MOU that have been signed between the Chinese and Pakistani companies are likely to give big boost to trading sector.

Pakistan’s neighborly policy towards China is another factor that has made substantive contribution towards the desired level of solidification of relationship. Being a member of many of the western sponsored cold war defense alliances, it was not an easy policy to pursue especially when one of the alliances was specifically directed against China. Equally important and linked factor is China’s correct comprehension of India-Pakistan hostilities. Unlike the Soviets, the Chinese were not hysterical over Pakistan’s participation in western sponsored pact SEATO.

Being pragmatic people the Chinese perception of factors intensifying the Pakistanis’ sense of insecurity were extremely accurate but they also correctly assessed the gravity of Pakistanis feelings over the Kashmir dispute. Cognizant of the disputed nature of the Kashmir dispute, the Sino-Pak boundary treaty of 1963 included the clause that the final boundary settlement would be undertaken when the dispute is permanently settled.

Not only the agreements they have signed over the years facilitated the evolution of an understanding between them but the Chinese also lived up to the expectations of the Pakistanis. Compared to China, there is no dearth of western countries that have either let Pakistan down or wriggled out of their commitments in one form or the other. For instance the Americans 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, invariably one is bound to be disappointed and frustrated.

Among the other factors that have indeed contributed so significantly towards strengthening the edifice of trust include the strict adherence to the principle of non-interference, people to people contacts, the Chinese contributions in order to expand and develop Pakistan’s defense productions, inadvertent Indian contributions etc. Since the acceptance of the guiding five principles of coexistence, neither side ever tried to interfere in each 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.

In terms of people to people contacts Pak-China Friendship Association was established in 1960 initially at Lahore. It 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 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. Undoubtedly there is room for further improvement in contacts. Pakistani students can benefit a lot from the Chinese educational establishments. Similarly Pakistan should also endeavor to establish an institute of Chinese studies.

One needs not to go into details about the enormous contributions that the Chinese have made in developing Pakistan’s defense industries. 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. Joint production of JF-17 Thunder fighter would further help in ever growing relations between these two countries. Bilateral relations in the defense sector are continuously strengthened by a regular exchange of military delegations.

Neither Pakistan nor China has allowed their friendly relationships to become hostage to any other set of their country’s relationships. However it is indeed difficult to ignore the involuntary contributions that India makes so regularly. A simple glance at India efforts reveals that they hardly miss any opportunity to blacken Pakistan’s image even at times when relations between India and Pakistan appeared to be on the mend. 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 to critical and regular evaluation.

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 them what they have done for the other party. Undoubtedly the latest China visit by the Pakistani President has further solidified their continuously growing relationships.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute.