Strengthening Sino-Pak relations

Pakistan OBSERVER, Fri, December,24, 2004.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema



Undoubtedly the recent visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s has further strengthened the existing cordiality between China and Pakistan. During his visit, seven important agreements were signed. The accords by themselves are indicative of the direction and reliability of relationships. In addition steps were taken in order to encourage and increase the Chinese investments in Pakistan. A general agreement was signed relating to the utilisation of $500 million preferential buyers credit. It means that loans would be extended to Chinese companies for projects in Pakistan. This would certainly result into the desired up-gradation of economic ties between China and Pakistan.

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.

While one could think of many reasons, which facilitated the growth of their relationships, two of them need to be specifically mentioned here. First, Pakistan’s neighbourly policy towards China.  Being a member of many of the western sponsored cold war defence alliances, it was not an easy policy to pursue especially when one of the alliances was specifically directed against China. Second, 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 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 defence 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 defence 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 endeavour 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 defence 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. Bilateral relations in the defence sector are continuously strengthened by a regular exchange of military delegations. Even during this trip not only Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met the defence minister in order to further cementing ties in defence sector but President Hu Jintao also expressed the desire to further strengthen the defence ties.

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.

While one need not to worry too much about China downgrading its relations with Pakistan as sufficient assurances have been highlighted even during the recent trip of the Pakistani Premier that China would never improve its relations with India at the expense of Pakistan, it would not be wise to take regular Indian efforts to weaken and undermine the ever-growing Sino-Pak ties lightly. One cannot blame India for pursuing policies that the Indians deem fit, to be vigilant and making regular efforts to further cement already close ties with China is not out of order.

President Ho Jintao expression that his country considers Pakistan a true and reliable friend must have reassured the visiting Pakistani delegation. He even pledged that China’s friendly policy towards Pakistan will never be changed under any circumstances. Visits like the one recently undertaken by the Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz not only provide opportunities to remove misunderstanding that may have inadvertently crept into the known stable and friendly relationships but also tend to reaffirm and further strengthen the nature of relationships. President Ho Jintao not only assured the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that China would stand by Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and extremism but also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to normalise its relationships with India.

Despite Pakistan’s close ties with China, the network dealing with trade and economic relations have so far not been very impressive. The signing of seven agreements should indeed serve to bring two countries even closer. Chinese involvement in various major projects such as Gawader, Thar coal, housing project, Chashma and defence sector certainly tend to generate confidence among the Pakistanis but one should not ignore the emerging realities. One must not overlook that the emergence of new environment in which economic imperatives are far more effective and influential than the political considerations. One must opt for changed strategies in order to cope with the challenges of 21^st century.

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. 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. Improvement in economic and trading interactions, people to people contact would indeed be in congruence with the dictates of 21^st century. In this connection Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s recent visit seem to have made enormous contributions.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute.