Why is China Helping Pakistan?
The growing strategic nexus between China and Pakistan is
one of the most critical geopolitical developments in South Asia. Far beyond
friendship or ideological similarity, the China-Pakistan partnership is
fundamentally based on mutual interests — especially their shared desire to
counterbalance India's rise. China's sustained support to Pakistan — moral,
material, diplomatic, and military — must be understood through the prism of
great power rivalry and regional dynamics.
The Pakistan-China Axis: A Strategy to Retard India's
Economic Progress
One of China's primary motivations in supporting Pakistan is
to ensure that India's economic, political, and military rise is checked. By
strengthening Pakistan economically and militarily, China seeks to keep India
bogged down in South Asian rivalries, preventing it from focusing on larger
global ambitions. Every major India-Pakistan confrontation serves Chinese
interests by diverting India's attention, draining its resources, and
maintaining strategic instability in the region.
China’s Diplomatic Shield for Pakistan
In international forums such as the United Nations Security
Council, China has consistently shielded Pakistan from global censure. Notably,
China has worked to water down resolutions that sought to hold Pakistan
accountable for sponsoring terrorism. In several instances, China has advocated
for "third-party investigations," subtly shifting focus away from
Pakistan’s culpability. This diplomatic cover allows Pakistan to continue its
activities without facing serious international consequences.
Moral and Material Support: Arms and Ammunition
China provides unwavering moral support to Pakistan,
portraying it as a victim of regional instability rather than an instigator.
More significantly, China has become one of Pakistan's largest suppliers of
arms and ammunition. Modern fighter jets, tanks, submarines, and missile
systems have all been provided or co-developed. This military assistance helps
Pakistan bridge its capability gaps vis-à-vis India, but it also deepens
Pakistan’s dependency on China for defense supplies, technology, and maintenance.
The Heavy Price Pakistan Must Pay
However, this support is not without heavy costs. Pakistan
is increasingly mortgaging its sovereignty to China. Financial dependency is
becoming acute, with Pakistan having to make unsustainable commitments to
Chinese projects under unfavorable terms. The dream of economic prosperity
through Chinese investments has turned into a nightmare of debt and strategic
subservience.
The CPEC Corridor: A Failing Dream
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), once hailed as
a "game-changer," is facing serious setbacks. Approximately $15-16
billion worth of Chinese investments are stuck in Pakistan, including the
much-touted Gwadar Port. Far from becoming a hub of regional trade, Gwadar
remains underdeveloped, poorly connected, and plagued by insecurity.
Pakistan’s inability to complete projects on time, rampant
corruption, political instability, and local resistance have all contributed to
the CPEC’s underperformance. China expected rapid returns and secure passage
for its goods to the Arabian Sea — but what it got instead was uncertainty and
mounting losses.
Pakistan's Non-Payment and Security Failures
Pakistan is in no position to repay the massive loans
extended by China. The Pakistani economy, already on life support, cannot
service these debts without perpetual bailouts from the IMF and other lenders.
Moreover, Pakistan has failed to secure the CPEC corridor against militant
threats, despite deploying tens of thousands of troops. Attacks on Chinese
engineers and workers have become frequent, leading to frustration in Beijing.
Historical Betrayal: Pakistan’s Surrender of Territory to
China
The roots of the Pakistan-China alliance go back to 1963
when Pakistan ceded the Shaksgam Valley (part of the disputed Kashmir region)
to China. This strategic giveaway symbolized Pakistan’s willingness to
sacrifice territorial sovereignty in favor of forging an alliance against
India. That decision still echoes today, as Pakistan continues to prioritize
this relationship over its own long-term national interests.
More Worrying Signs: Pressure Along the Chinese Border
Beyond Pakistan, China is also applying direct pressure on
India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The increased tensions in Ladakh
and Arunachal Pradesh are designed to stretch Indian military resources across
multiple fronts. In such a scenario, the Pakistan-China nexus becomes even more
dangerous — a pincer movement that seeks to keep India constantly on edge,
militarily engaged, and economically constrained
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