PR China-Pakistan relations

People's Republic of China–Pakistan relations began in 1950 when Pakistan was among
the first countries to break relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan and recognize
the PRC. Following the 1962 Sino-Indian War, both countries has placed considerable
importance on the maintenance of an extremely close and supportive relationship. Since
then, the two countries have regularly exchanged high-level visits resulting in a variety
of agreements. The PRC has provided economic, military and technical assistance to
Pakistan and each considers the other a close strategic ally.

Bilateral relations have evolved from an initial Chinese policy of neutrality to a

partnership that links a smaller but militarily powerful Pakistan, partially dependent on
China for its economic and military strength, with China attempting to balance
competing interests in the region. Diplomatic relations were established in 1950, military
assistance began in 1966, a strategic alliance was formed in 1972 and economic co-
operation began in 1979. China has become Pakistan’s largest supplier of arms and its
third-largest trading partner. Recently, both nations have decided to cooperate in
improving
Pakistan's civilian nuclear program.

Favourable relations with China is a pillar of Pakistan's foreign policy. China supported
Pakistan's opposition to the Soviet Union's intervention in Afghanistan and is perceived
by Pakistan as a regional counterweight to India and the United States. China and
Pakistan also share close military relations, with China supplying a range of modern
armaments to the Pakistani defence forces. China supports Pakistan's stance on Kashmir
while Pakistan supports China on the issues of Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan. Lately,
military cooperation has deepened with joint projects producing armaments ranging from
fighter jets to guided missile frigates.

Chinese cooperation with Pakistan has reached economic high points, with substantial
Chinese investment in Pakistani infrastructural expansion including the Pakistani deep
water port at Gwadar. Both countries have an ongoing free trade agreement. Pakistan
has served as China's main bridge between Muslim countries. Pakistan also played an
important role in bridging the communication gap between China and the West by
facilitating the 1972 Nixon visit to China.

Background

Pakistan has a long and symbiotic relationship with China. The long-standing ties
between the two countries have been mutually supportive. A close identity of views and
mutual interests remain the hallmark of bilateral ties. Since the 1962 Sino-Indian War,
Pakistan has supported China on most issues of importance to the latter, especially
those related to the question of China's sovereignty like Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Tibet and
other sensitive issues such as human rights.

The Chinese leadership has acknowledged Pakistan's steadfast support on key issues.
Pakistan helped China in re-establishing formal ties with the West, where they helped
make possible the 1972 Nixon visit to China. Pakistan has collaborated with China in
extensive military and economic projects, seeing China as a counterweight to India and
the United States. Pakistan has also served as a conduit for China's influence in the
Muslim world. China also has a consistent record of supporting Pakistan in regional
issues. During the Pakistan-Indian tensions in 2008, it implied that it would support
Pakistan in the event of a war. Pakistan's military depends heavily on Chinese
armaments, and joint projects of both economic and militaristic importance are ongoing.
China has supplied equipment to support Pakistan's nuclear program, and has been
accused of giving nuclear technology to Pakistan.

Diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established on 21 May 1951,
shortly after the defeat of the Republic Of China in 1949. While initially ambivalent
towards the idea of a Communist country on it's borders, Pakistan hoped that China
would serve as a counterweight to Indian influence. India had recognized China a year
before, and Indian Prime Minister Nehru also hoped for closer relations with the Chinese.
However, with escalating border tensions leading to the 1962 Sino-Indian war, China
and Pakistan aligned with each other in a joint effort to counter perceived Indian
encroachment. One year after China's border war with India, Pakistan ceded the Trans-
Karakoram Tract to China to end border disputes and improve diplomatic relations.

Since then, an informal alliance that initially consisted of joint Indian opposition has
grown into a lasting relationship that has benefited both nations on the diplomatic,
economic and military frontiers. Along with diplomatic support, Pakistan served as a
conduit for China to open up to the West. China has in turn provided extensive economic
aid and political support towards Pakistan.

Pakistan's military initially depended almost entirely on American armaments and aid,
which was increased during the covert U.S. support of Islamic militants in the Soviet war
in Afghanistan. America under US President Richard Nixon supported Pakistan in the
1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.[13] However, the period following the Soviet
withdrawal and the dissolution of the Soviet Union led indirectly to the increasing
realignment of America with the previously pro-Soviet India. The Pressler Amendment in
1990 suspended all American military assistance and any new economic aid amidst
concerns that Pakistan was attempting to develop a nuclear weapon.[ Given the support
that Pakistan had given them during the War in Afghanistan, many Pakistanis saw this as
a betrayal that sold out Pakistani interests in favour of India. This belief was further
strengthened as India had developed a nuclear weapon without significant American
opposition, and Pakistan felt obligated to do the same. Consequently, the primarily
geopolitical alliance between Pakistan and China has since 1990 branched out into
military and economic cooperation, due to Pakistan's belief that America's influence and
support in the region should be counterbalanced by the Chinese.

With the war in Afghanistan leading to renewed relations with the U.S., there is a
general sentiment in Pakistan to adopt a foreign policy which favors China over the
United States. Washington has been accused deserting Pakistan in favor of a policy that
favors stronger relations with India, while Pakistan sees China as a more reliable ally
over the long term.

Since 9/11, Pakistan has increased the scope of Chinese influence and support by
agreeing to a number of military projects, combined with extensive economic support
and investment from the Chinese. This is partially due to Pakistan's strategy of playing
off the two powers against each other, but also a genuine effort to prevent America's
influence in the region from becoming too strong. In return, the Chinese hope to
strengthen Pakistan as a counterbalance to American and Indian influence.

Military relations
The People's Republic of China enjoys strong defense ties with Pakistan. This relationship
between two adjoining Asian countries is important in the world's geo-strategic alliances.
The strong defense ties are primarily to counter regional Indian and American influence,
and was also to repel Soviet influence in the area. In recent years this relationship has
strengthened through ongoing defence projects and agreements between Pakistan and
China.
Since 1962, China has been a steady source of military equipment to the Pakistani Army,
helping establish munition factories, providing technological assistance and modernizing
existing facilities. The countries are involved in the joint venture of several projects to
enhance military and weaponry systems, which include collaborating in the development
of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, K-8 Karakorum advance training aircraft, space
technology, AWACS systems, Al-Khalid tanks and the Babur cruise missile. The armies
have a schedule for organising joint military exercises.

China is the largest investor in the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, which is strategically located
at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. It is viewed warily by both America and India as a
possible Launchpad for Chinese naval operations in the Indian Ocean. However the
Gwadar Port is currently delayed due to a multilateral diplomatic standoff between the
project leaders and the Singapore government. China has offered Pakistan military aid in
order to fight against terrorism in Pakistan. Pakistan has purchased military equipment
from China in order to bolster their efforts against Islamic militants.

In the past, China has played a major role in the development of Pakistan's nuclear
infrastructure, especially when increasingly stringent export controls in Western
countries made it difficult for Pakistan to acquire materials and uranium enriching
equipment from elsewhere. China has supplied Pakistan with equipment to advance their
nuclear weapons program, such as the Chinese help in building the Khushab reactor,
which plays a key role in Pakistan's production of plutonium. A subsidiary of the China
National Nuclear Corporation contributed in Pakistan's efforts to expand its uranium
enrichment capabilities by providing 5,000 custom made ring magnets, which are a key
component of the bearings that facilitate the high-speed rotation of centrifuges. China
has also provided technical and material support in the completion of the Chashma
Nuclear Power Complex and plutonium reprocessing facility, which was built in the mid
1990s. China may also have supplied nuclear technology to the Pakistanis, enabling
Pakistan to become a nuclear state with an estimated 100 warheads as of 2011.

Economic relations

Economic trade between Pakistan and China are increasing at a rapid pace and a free
trade agreement has recently been signed. Military and technological transactions
continue to dominate the economic relationship between the two nations, although in
recent years China has pledged to vastly increase their investment in Pakistan's
economy and infrastructure. Among other things, China has been helping to develop
Pakistan's infrastructure through the building of power plants, roads and communication
nodes.

Both countries are keen on strengthening the economic ties between the two, and have
promised to 'propel' cross-border trade. This has led to investment in Pakistan's nascent
financial and energy sectors, amidst a surge of Chinese investment designed to
strengthen ties. Pakistan has in turn been granted free trade zones in China. The
economic relationship between Pakistan and China is composed primarily of Chinese
investment in Pakistani interests. China's increasing economic clout has enabled a wide
variety of projects to be sponsored in Pakistan through Chinese credit. Pakistani
investment in China is also encouraged, and cross-border trade remains fluid.