Pakistan will not reduce relations with China, no matter US pressure

By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said Pakistan would not change or downgrade its brotherly relations with China no matter what the pressure. In an interview with Liu Xin of China-state media TV, CGTN, PM Khan said it was “very unfair” of the United States and other western powers to pressure countries like Pakistan to take sides, questioning, “Why do we have to take sides?” “We should have good relations with everyone,” he added.

Earlier, Pakistan has time and again declares its state policy to be a partner with any country anywhere at any time for peace, stability, welfare, developments, saving human lives, prosperity, etc. But Pakistan can no longer be a partner in any war, any conflict, any aggression, any conspiracy, any cold war, with any country, anytime and anywhere.

Mr. Khan said a “strange, great rivalry” was taking place in the region, which everybody knew about. “The US formed a regional alliance called ‘Quad’ that includes India and a couple of other countries,” he said, adding that “if pressure is put on Pakistan to change its relations or downgrade its ties with China, it would not happen.”

Historically, Pakistan was always maintained good relations with China, even, Pakistan was a close ally with the US and signatory to many defense pacts with the US, and non-NATO close ally, yet, maintained very close relations with China. No doubt, that Pakistan was instrumental in establishing diplomatic relations between the US and China. The first secret visit of American leadership was facilitated by Pakistan.

The prime minister emphatically said: “Relationship between Pakistan and China is very deep, it is not just the governments, its people-to-people relationship.”

He recalled how China “always stood with us” whenever the country was in trouble politically or internationally or in a conflict with its neighbor, in an apparent reference to India. Whereas, the US has signed several defense agreements with India and declared as a “Major Defense Partner”. The US is generously assisting India in all possible areas, like Defense, Technology, weapons, economy, political and diplomatic, etc. India has become the second-largest beneficiary of US assistance, just after Israel. India is using American assistance. American weapons, American political and diplomatic support against Pakistan.

“In good times, everyone stands with you but in your difficult, tough times, bad times, you remember those people who stood by you. That’s why you will find that in Pakistan, people always have a special fondness for people in China,” he added. Especially, Pakistan has a bitter lesson learned from America. Whenever, the US needs Pakistan, becomes friendly but soon after its objectives are achieved, the US always punished Pakistan with severe sanctions.

When asked how ties between the two countries could deepen further, the prime minister replied: “Number one is trade.”

Mr. Khan termed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the “biggest thing happening in Pakistan” and the economic future the country was moving towards. CPEC is instrumental in Pakistan’s economic take-off. In a matter of fact, CPEC is “Oxygen” for the ailing economy of Pakistan.

The political relationship between Pakistan and China had gotten stronger as well because “whatever happens in any international forum, Pakistan and China stand together”, he said.

Last month, PM Khan and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang wrote letters to each other to mark 70 years of Pakistan-China friendship and vowed to further strengthen ties between the two states.

“On behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, as well as on my own behalf, I wished to extend my heartiest felicitations to you on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. 220 million people of Pakistan stand behind him.

“21st May 1951, the day when our relations were formally established, has been a watershed moment in our history. Our two people and successive leaderships and governments have made indefatigable efforts to foster, cement, and strengthen our ties. Our time-tested relationship is built around lasting values of mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual understanding,” the prime minister said in his letter to his Chinese counterpart.

The people of Pakistan determine to move forward with further strengthening of traditional friendship between China and Pakistan in all dimensions.

Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan – Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.

(This is an opinion article. The views expressed belong  only to the author and the publication of the article  does not necessarily imply  the endorsement of its content by  World Geostrategic Insights). 

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