China eyes Pakistan as regional partner
The
Chinese communist party tabloid Global Times has featured an Op-Ed by a research fellow in the Academy of Military
Science titled “Sino-Pak ties a testing ground for new global order.” The
thrust of the piece is on reorienting China-Pakistan strategic cooperation to
cope with the changes in the global order characterized by the decline of the
West and the surge of China, and China’s search for a new type of relationship
with the US.
The
GT piece makes the case for a new globalization system in which China and
Pakistan will actively engage in “South-South cooperation” and strive to
“unify” (rally) other countries that are today passive participants in the
US-led international system. It argues that China-Pakistan cooperation,
which was based on “balanced diplomacy” historically, should assume a broader
sweep whereby both “should view the troubles of the other as their own
problems.” While the core of the partnership should be economic
cooperation, its “essential foundations” involve “mutual trust in politics and
security and practical defense cooperation.”
The
commentary has appeared just before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to
China and, equally, against the backdrop of the upswing in the US-Indian
defence ties after his recent visit to Washington. To be sure, Beijing takes
note that India is steadily being drawn into the US’ rebalancing strategy in
Asia, which of course it sees as paramountly directed at containing
China.
China
feels the pressure from the US’s “pivot” to Asia and would look for ways to
counter it by intensifying ties with friendly countries such as Pakistan. The
Chinese-Russian “coordination”, for example, is assuming an orientation
directed at the US’ strategies. East Asia, Central Asia and the Middle
East are mentioned as the theatres where China would pursue such “South-South
cooperation” strategy — with Africa and Latin America slated for the medium
term.
Clearly,
from what it appears, there is no scope for the US and China to cooperate in
“moderating” the Pakistani policies, as American pundits fancy. The commentary
promises Beijing’s support for Pakistan in its efforts to deal with
“interference” from the US. Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif is due to
visit the US later this month.
By M
K Bhadrakumar – October 10, 2013
Comments
Post a Comment