From Shaheen-II to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Pakistan-China Military and Economic Relations (2013-2023) At A Glance

Abstract

For decades, Pakistan and China enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations, which have now been transformed into a long-standing strategic and economic partnership. The historic silk trade route, development of the Gwadar port, Chashma nuclear power plant, and manufacturing of JF-17 thunder fighter jets were some of the instances of this partnership from the past. In recent years, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), formally agreed upon in 2013, represents a joint commitment to cooperation and development by both states. Following China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI), this project aims to utilize the Eurasian land bridge to connect Pakistan with Central Asia. Despite enormous challenges and threats to Pakistan-China relations posed by Pakistan's border issues, the CPEC is now partially functional, and both states are working on expanding it. With a particular emphasis on strategic and economic aspects, the current study analytically explores the nature of the Pakistan-China relationship. The qualitative approach is applied to identify the relationship changes between countries during 2013 and 2023. Primary and secondary data types will be relied on and utilized to explore the study's findings.