If we trace the history of Sino-Pak relations, we would know that they have strong bond for decades and despite the US involvement in the South Asian region, they did not lose their bilateral friendship. The Sino-Pak relationship has created a conundrum for the US, the growing threat of the rising superpower China and its bond with Pakistan did not let the US calm breath.
The 21st century is termed the Asian Century. In this century there are four major players namely Pakistan, China, the United States of America, and India, who have changed the dynamics of the region. Pakistan and China are proved to be all-weather friends, their bond is strong as the mountains. Whereas the US possesses an antagonistic nature towards China. The growing US-Sino rivalry in an already fragile South Asian security environment is harmful to regional peace and stability. Pakistan has close ties with China, while the US has invested a lot in India to counter China’s growing power. With the intensifying rivalry between the two and the US opposition to China has created a problematic situation for Pakistan. Pakistan has to avoid placing all eggs in China’s basket and it is in Pakistan’s national interest to resist pressure to side with one of the rivals. US-Sino contention can complicate Pakistan’s attempt to maintain balanced ties with both superpowers in a variety of ways. Moreover, the exacerbating competition between the US and China is paving the way for numerous conflicts such as the arms race, the proliferation of nuclear weapons et cetera.
Trilateral relationship between Pakistan, China and the US
The US and China are bound in an era of “Great Power Competition” and this can be felt around the world, especially in Pakistan. China’s growing influence is evident in the East and West. China’s increasing influence in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka has created dismay in India, and India begins to view this influence as a tactic to undermine its position as a local hegemon. Pakistan’s tilt toward China threatens both India and the US. This issue has become a grave concern for the former and the latter. Pakistan has been squarely caught up in the worse US-Sino relations. Amazingly, this rivalry could not be understood by using Cold War-era logic. Additionally, US and India should not see the Pakistan-China relationship as a zero-sum game. Pakistan’s analysts are not oblivious to the continuous friction in US-Sino relations and its impact on Pakistan’s relationship with both countries. Pakistan had robust relations in the past with both China and the US; based on economic, political, and security interests. Currently, Pakistan’s relationship with the US is quite well as America is still the largest export market for Pakistani goods and a prioritized education destination for Pakistani students. While China has now become the largest supplier of arms to Pakistan and provided economic cooperation through CPEC with an estimated value of $62 billion. Pakistani policymakers suggest that Pakistan should adopt a mild approach in managing bilateral relations with the two strategically important countries. It is a fact that the strategic competition between the US and China will pose numerous challenges to Pakistan’s desire to equally maintain close ties with the US and China.
