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The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
Abstract
[The global power paradigm is witnessing a major shift, from the West to the East, and China
is emerging as a key player at the world scene. While Pak-China relations have always
remained coordinal, new opportunities of enhanced cooperation at bilateral and beyond
bilateral level are opening up with this global power shift. China can help Pakistan attain the
latter’s due role at forums such as SCO, can also play a role in normalizing Pak-India
relations, and may offer substantial cooperation Vis-à-vis regional stability particularly with
reference to Afghanistan. Pakistan, on its part, provides a secure and feasible corridor for
China’s momentous production sector and to meet its growing energy needs. The two time-
tested partners can also cooperate closely at global forums. – Editors.]
The article is a revised version of the concluding speech made at the last session of
the three day conference “Pakistan China Relations: Bilateral and Beyond Bilateral
Exchanges” organized by the Institute of Policy Studies in collaboration with Chinese
and Pakistani academic institutions, on April 28-30, 2014. The session took place at
the University of Management and Technology, Lahore on April 30.
M. Akram Zaki is former Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan and
a member of IPS National Academic Council.
[3]
Policy Perspectives
1
Mishra, “The US Rebalancing Strategy/ Pivot to Asia,” 149-151.
2
Harris, “US Imperialism and Globalization after Iraq.”
4
The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
3
Domhoff, “Wealth, Income, and Power.”
5
Policy Perspectives
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The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
With the start of the 21st century, Pakistan and China decided to
stress upon economic and commercial dimension, which was very weak
till then. Both states signed “Joint Declaration on the Direction of
Bilateral Relations” in 2003 and “Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and
Good Neighborly Relations” in 2005. Then came the Five-Year
Development Program in 2006. Pakistan and China have signed about
4
Junru, The China Dream.
The Indonesian city where the first summit of African and Asian nations in 1955 was
held, later paving the way for establishment of Non-Aligned Movement.
7
Policy Perspectives
375 agreements and MoUs with each other. There are 13,000 Chinese
working in Pakistan on various projects. Now, China is coming in
massive new projects.
Let us now come to the Indian Ocean. In India there are some
thinkers including Panikkar, the first Indian Ambassador to China, who
5
The Economic Times, “Pakistan Plans to Produce 8,900 MW Nuclear Power by 2030,”
January 2, 2014.
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Ahmed, “Sino-Pakistan Civil Nuclear Cooperation.”
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The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
advocate that Indian Ocean should be made an Indian Lake and India
should have complete control over it. But the British presence in Diego
Garcia did not let Delhi have a complete domination over the India
Ocean. Then the Americans established a base in Diego Garcia. As
Pakistan, at that time, was closely allied to the USA, Pakistan thought it
was a good idea to ensure that at least the total Indian domination of
the Indian Ocean will not be possible. In the 1990s, it was proposed
that there should be a conference of the littoral states of the Indian
Ocean and there should be fixed Naval ratio so that no single Navy
should be able to dominate.
7
UNESCO, “The Great Wall.”
9
Policy Perspectives
One thing that has changed in the world politics is that old era
when countries were either friends or enemies has gone. All countries
have to interact now with each other. Any two countries may have
some common interests in which they can cooperate – i.e. the mutual
interest – despite having other issues in which they may have
difference or even divergence of views or conflict. So the function of
diplomacy today is not to insist on difference and promote war, but to
enlarge the areas of cooperation and to reduce the areas of friction.
This, in spite of American provocations in the Far East, has been the
Chinese approach.
This was called Hindi Cheeni Bhai Bhai (India and China are brothers).
Then, after some time when Dalai Lama took refuge in India in 1959
which led to border conflict in 1962, it became “Hindi Cheeni Bye Bye”
i.e. a total cut-off in relationship. In 1988, Rajive under Gorbachev’s
influence went to China and some improvement started. From that
time, the two countries gradually reduced tension on their borders and
now it is “buy buy” situation. They are trading with each other and their
trade volume is now about $66 billion.8
While making efforts to protect their sea lanes, the Chinese are
looking for alternative land routes for bypassing the sea lane. China
Pakistan Economic Corridor is to ensure that they do not have to take
the risk of going through the ocean, where India and the Unites States
are dominant powers.
8
The Times of India, “India's Trade Deficit with China Balloons to $12 billion,” July 1,
2013.
Deriving from author’s discussion with the said Chinese scholar.
It is said that one Chinese empress of the Qing Dynasty made a silly mistake. The
money allotted to the navy was reserved by the empress and she built the summer
palace. To pay tribute to the navy and to acknowledge that were the navel founds
that she used, she built a marble ship and put it in the lake of the summer palace.
That is why soon thereafter British andies American navy came and established post
in both Japan and China because they did not have navy.
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Policy Perspectives
China, considering its overall defence policy, will not send troops
to Afghanistan. But there is tremendous scope for helping each other.
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The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
9
Dawn, “Pakistan’s Case Strong for SCO Membership,” August 29, 2013.
13
Policy Perspectives
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The Evolution in Global Power Balance and Pak-China Relations
References
Harris, Jerry. “US Imperialism and Globalization after Iraq.” Race &
Class 50, no. 1 (2008).
Junru, Li. The China Dream. Beijing: Foreign Language Press, 2006.
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