In a meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken expressed concern at the destruction and fatalities brought on by catastrophic flooding. He pledged his full support and committed US$56 million in humanitarian aid for flood relief efforts. Blinken also implied that China should do more for the flood-stricken neighbor. China is irked by Washington’s “unsolicited” advice.
In Pakistan this year, flooding brought on by climate change reached devastating levels. A third of the country has been submerged by the floods, which already claimed at least 1,600 lives and caused more than $30 billion in damage to crops and infrastructure.
On September 26, 2022, at the State Department in Washington, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken had a meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the foreign minister of Pakistan. The Secretary expressed concern at the destruction and fatalities brought on by catastrophic flooding. At a time when Pakistan is seeking international aid, he pledged his full support and said, “We are here for Pakistan, just as we were during past natural disasters, looking ahead to rebuild.”
During the discussion, he urged Pakistan to ask China, its single-largest creditor, for debt relief and restructuring after the country suffered this calamity.
In response to his statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin angrily reacted by stating that rather than “passing unwarranted criticism against Pakistan-China cooperation” the US should do something “real and beneficial” for the people of Pakistan.
He added that the Chinese government has so far given Pakistan 400 million RMB in humanitarian aid and they will keep working tirelessly to aid the Pakistani people in overcoming the floods and quickly rebuilding their homes.
The exchange of allegations between the two is a result of an escalating rivalry between the US and China for gaining world dominance. Unfortunately, this tension has spilled over to Pakistan, where the Americans are trying to sway Pakistan away from Chinese influence. They have warned Pakistan against overreliance on Chinese investments in CPEC projects which could result in Pakistan being overburdened with debt. However, Pak-China relations have time and again proven to be strong as both have enjoyed a close and mutually beneficial relationship over the years. Pakistan considers CPEC a game changer for its development and economic prosperity and will never do anything to upset the Chinese.
At the same time, Pakistan must strike a balance with both superpowers. First, by strengthening relationships with the US, which have been strained over the last three years due to the former PTI government’s policies. This relationship is of strategic importance to both countries as the US looks to Pakistan for support in their fight against terrorism whereas Pakistan seeks to enhance trade and defence cooperation with the US. On the other hand, Pakistan will always maintain close brotherly ties with its oldest ally, China.
Currently, the exchange of views and meetings between the foreign ministers has been cordial and seems to be setting relations back on track. As an example of a warming up of relations, the US was quick to respond to Pakistan’s call for help and committed US$56 million in humanitarian aid for flood relief efforts, along with promises of long-term support in the future.
During the meeting, the foreign minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto stated, “The opportunity of this crisis in Pakistan is that we must build back a better, greener, more climate-resilient world, back home as well.” He further stated that he would like to see both countries work together on climate change.
This meeting between the two can prove to be a catalyst for further coordination and enhancement of ties between the two countries. With the current administration, this is an opportunity to reset ties and start a new chapter of a mutually beneficial relationship. At the same time, one is yet to see how Pakistan would adjust itself in this tug of war between the two great powers: the US and China.
