SINO-PAK RELATIONS

Group Members
Afifa Kashif (22)
Eman Kamran (25)
Aleena Waseem (29)
Jawairia Rehman (30)
Urooj Zulfiqar (31)
Laila Eman (33)
Zainab Bibi (39)

Class: BS Psy 3rd

Course: International Relations
Submitted to: Madam Tehseen Fatima
 LIBERALISM
Liberalism is the most accepted alternative theoretical perspective to liberalism. It emphasizes
interdependence between states. States interact for mutual benefit and cooperation.
Example: The relation between Pakistan and China can be described with a liberal analysis.

CHINA AND LIBERAL INTERNATIONALISM

According to the ‘inside looking out’ approach given by Fukuyama “a world made up of liberal
democracies...should have much less incentive for war, since all nations would reciprocally
recognize one another’s legitimacy”.
Example: Since 1947, India has always had crazy military designs and always wished to
establish hegemony over the region. China, although capable of retaliating in the same frenzied
war spirit, didn’t do it because waging a war cannot improve living conditions of the Chinese
people rather make them worse. Even in 1962, in the Sino-Indian war of Ladakh, China could
wage a war against India but didn’t care to prolong the issue. As China is strong on the inside, so
she doesn’t see fit to start a war.

BANDWAGONING
In hierarchical world order, attempting to increase gains by siding with the stronger party is
called bandwagoning.
Example: Pakistan has sided with a stronger party, China.

WAR AND PEACE

According to liberals, peace is the normal situation, it can be perpetual. The laws of nature have
always dictated harmony and cooperation between people. To liberals, wars were created by
governments for their own interests. Wars provide governments with excuses to raise taxes,
expand their bureaucratic apparatus and increase their control over citizens.
Example: China is a socialist state working solely for its people. Therefore, she doesn’t see fit to
wage wars.

PAK-CHINA RELATIONS AND NEO-LIBERAL VIEWPOINT

Cooperation between states happens according to neo-realist as well as neo-liberal analysis, the
only disagreement is about how states conceive their own interests. While according to neo-
realists, states are concerned with relative gains (who will gain more), neo-liberals say that states
focus on absolute gains. Considering the diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China,
liberal analysis fits more because Pakistan gains much less than what China gains by cooperating
with Pakistan.

PAK-CHINA RELATIONS
At present, Pakistan and China enjoy cordial relations with each other. These relations date back
to 1950s, when Pakistan recognized newly established People’s Republic of China, and took
stand for the newly formed Communist government in China. Although at some point, Pakistan
had to go against China, like when Pakistan joined SEATO and CENTO (to contain Communist
expansionism) or when Pakistan voted against China’s membership of UN in 1954. Even when
these events occurred, Chinese government showed restraint as they knew this was all due to
American pressure. Borderline issues arose in 1962 between India and China, which was
resolved through war as India sought to it first. China also had borderline issues with Pakistan,
but they were resolved in a peaceful way as peace has always been priority for Pakistan and
China. Pakistan also facilitated to melt the ice between America and China. Following are
important events that escalated relations between Pakistan and China:
 Air Transport Agreement: Relations escalated when Pakistan and China signed their
first air transport agreement in 1963.
 Kashmir Issue: In 1964, China decided to show support for Pakistan in Kashmir issue
and diplomatic support from China has remained consistent since then.
 1965, 1971 wars: China gave full political and economic support to Pakistan in 1965
Indopak war, however, couldn’t support Pakistan openly during 1971 war because Soviet
Union stood openly on Indian side. But, after the war was over China assisted Pakistan
militarily and financially.
Following are some projects in which China has assisted Pakistan:
 Karakoram Highway: Inaugurated in 1978, it has expanded the volume of trade
between the two countries. Pakistani and Chinese workers have laid their lives to
construct this highway.
 Chashma Nuclear Power Plant: China agreed in 1991 to supply Pakistan with its
indigenously developed Qinshan-1 nuclear power plant. Construction on Chashma
Nuclear Power Plant-1 (CHASNUPP-1 or C-1) began in 1993, and the 300 MWe reactor
became operational in May 2000.
 Saindak Project: Due to scarcity of resources and lack of technical knowhow Pakistan
was unable to make use of large copper deposits found in Balochistan but it was made
feasible with Chinese assistance.
 Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra: Military aircraft are renovated here.
Pakistan’s indigenous Mashak was designed and produced completely in this complex.
 Heavy Mechanical Complex Ltd (HMC): Heavy Mechanical Complex is a Pakistani
state-owned defense manufacturer. It was established in 1979 with Chinese assistance.
 Tank Al-Khalid: Tank Al-Khalid is a Pakistani main battle tank developed by Heavy
Industries Taxila in the 1990s. It was developed with Chinese assistance.
 JF-17 Thunder: The contract to jointly develop JF-17 Thunder was signed in 1999 and it
was inducted in Pakistan Air Force in 2010.
 Gwadar Port: A seaport at Gwadar has been constructed with Chinese assistance. It has
brought about revolution in Pakistan’s economy as well as helped her meet her naval
defense requirement in a better way.
 China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): In 2013, when Pakistan was being
blamed for being a terrorist country and was being sanctioned, CPEC, a part of the larger
Belt and Road Initiative, was given to Pakistan. The project intended to improve China’s
land and sea access to its consumer markets in several countries and to rapidly upgrade
Pakistan’s required infrastructure and strengthen Pakistan’s economy by construction of
 modern transportation networks, numerous energy project and economic zones. It was
inaugurated on January 5th, 2022.
 MOUs: MOUs were signed including MOU to establish Joint Working Groups on
Science & Technology and Agricultural Cooperation in 2020.
CONCLUSION:
Although Pak-China friendship is unmatched, it only remains ‘friendship’ until the mutual
benefit remains. While analysing relations between states it is to be kept in mind that actors tend
to build friendship only on mutual benefits.