By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
The rising rivalry between the US and China is costing Pakistan heavily. The US is trying to resist the rise of China and using all possible ways and means. Direct confrontation, may not be possible, as the American defense capabilities may not win a war in the Pacific Ocean.
On the economic front, the US economy is on the verge of collapse almost and cannot beat China. China has become the hub of manufacturing for the whole world.
The abundance of raw material, qualified competitive workforce, and the huge domestic market made it possible to cut down the production cost, no other country compete in China in price. American companies, to maximize their profits, have shifted to China, leaving the US unable to manufacture very basic necessities too.
The outbreak of COVID-19 exposed American vulnerabilities. At the critical moment, the US was helpless to manufacture Ventilators, Masks, Testing Kits, even tissue papers, and sanitizers. Unpreparedness, lack of priorities, and slow response made the US one of the worst-hit countries in the world, with maximum infections as well as the highest death toll.
The US was a unique superpower for the last three decades almost and keeps its influence on other countries. Pakistan was a close ally with the US during the cold war era, the Afghan war, and the war on terror. The US has deep penetration in Pakistan and has been cultivation its own lobby within Pakistan. They invest in few Pakistanis, train them, promote them, wash their brains, and appoint them on key posts and decision making positions in Pakistan.
The US is using its lobby in Pakistan to counter China in Pakistan. Although the Government of Pakistan is committed to the CPEC ( China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) officially and moving forward satisfactorily. But the pro-American lobby in Pakistan is the biggest hurdle in achieving real progress on the ground. This lobby, knockout several projects tactfully. The progress on Rashakai SEZ in KPK, Gwadar Port, and ML-1, etc., are hardly visible on the ground.
CPEC is oxygen for the ailing economy of Pakistan and guarantor for economic take-off. CPEC came in when the US and its allies have written off Pakistan completely. The US has abandoned 7 decades of friendship with Pakistan and tilted toward rival India. Although the US knows very well that, as long as, Pakistan was their close ally, they achieved all of their strategic goals in this part of the world, and since they apart from Pakistan, they are facing one after another failure. At least, the Military leadership in the US is very well aware of the importance of Pakistan. Pakistan may be a comparatively small country, the fifth largest country in the world by population, with the ailing economy, but is pivot in geostrategic importance. Pakistan’s role may be decisive for any power to win in this region.
Backed by the US, India is offering huge resistance to CPEC and sabotaging this vital project. The notorious RAW spy of Indian Navy Commander Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav was involved in espionage in Pakistan, from Chahbahar port in Iran. The US is also using some other countries to exert pressure on Pakistan indirectly. The US is fighting its war against China in Pakistan.
CPEC is a consensus built project of Pakistan, and the people of Pakistan stand behind it. CPEC is a project of connectivity, linking the whole region. The beneficiaries may include Eurasia, Iran, Tukey, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Russia. CPEC will change the traditional trade routes and patterns of the global economy. Pakistan will facilitate international trade for the entire region. Gwadar port has the potential to become the hub of trade and economic activities for the whole area.
Pakistan will play a vital role in maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity of the whole region. Despite all pressures and resistance, Pakistan is committed to moving forward with CPEC. As we are celebrating the 69th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, we re-affirm our commitment to CPEC. Formal diplomatic relations were established between two countries on 21 May 1951. Since then, our relations kept on growing uninterruptedly. With the launch of the CPEC, the relations between China and Pakistan entered into a new phase. We will overcome any resistance from within or outside hurdles and succeed in achieving our strategic vital goals.
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.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy or views of World Geostrategic Insights).