Abstract
The quest for energy and resources has been a challenging course for the policy makers of Pakistan and in such an epoch, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been welcomed wholeheartedly and is considered a ray of hope. Whilst Pakistan is suffering from energy and economic crisis, China is searching for various alternate paths to reach the energy resources and a direct access to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The corridor is expected to provide both China and Pakistan with enormous advantages and would further strengthen their bilateral ties. The economic corridor is not only a win-win approach for China and Pakistan but would also serve the purpose of regional integration and interconnectedness by shifting the focus of attention towards South Asia. Such a fascinating proposal to Pakistan would not only increase its energy sources manifold but would also strengthen its economy to greater degree.
The magnification of the possessions and strengthening of the bilateral ties between China and Pakistan has not been accepted by many. Some of the major trouble creators include rogue elements residing in the State and collaborating with rival neighbors; Pakistan’s success is unacceptable to such rogue elements who are resorting to every possible tactics to damage CPEC or at least to reduce its pace of development. However, some unanimous policies have been formulated by the authorities of both the countries to maximize the benefits from CPEC. Both China and Pakistan are standing together in order to ensure the success of CPEC and their firm determination would surely be fruitful. The successful achievement of such a joint venture would be a landmark event in the contemporary world.
Introduction
The second half of the twentieth century has seen a shift in International Relations from military might towards a more integrated and economically interdependent relationship. The trans-boundary interactions have increased and a number of non-state actors have emerged.
The states relations have remained inter-governmental throughout diplomatic history but the contemporary era is dominated by the rise of non-governmental, trans-governmental and transnational partnerships among states. Same is the case of China-Pakistan’s relations under the umbrella of China Pakistan Economic Corridor. China and Pakistan have long been enjoying a cordial relationship and strong bilateral ties. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor would provide both the countries to expand their relations and to reach new realms with the addition of economic dimension. The corridor would prove to be a source of interconnectedness between the states and would serve to increase inter-dependence upon one another, accentuating regional peace and harmony.
However, China Pakistan Economic Corridor would serve the purpose of revitalization of Pakistan’s socio-economic sphere. Despite the power parity between China and Pakistan, the Economic Corridor would turn the tables in favor of Pakistan being the chief stakeholder of the mega-project. Also, all the main routes of the corridor and major economic activities would be concentrated over the land of Pakistan making it the hub of economic activities. The Corridor would be a game-changer for Pakistan rejuvenating its economy and helping it regain its lost glory.
Objectives of the Study
The Study aims at elaborating China’s stance on building cooperation and interdependence in South Asia. It would encompass the ongoing regionalization and its impact on development in South Asia. It will emphasize upon the Geostrategic importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and explains the mutual benefits driven by it. The study’s main focus would be on enumerating national dynamics of China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a game changer and understanding the geopolitical impact of China Pakistan Economic Corridor. It would also underline the arguments of the Critics in regard to developing tensions between federal and provincial governments of Pakistan regarding unjust distribution of CPEC’s assets.
Significance of Study
This study will help people recognize the worth of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and would lessen the resentments that people have regarding the interests of China. It would further signify the liberal’s interdependence theory by practically implementing it in the form of extended economic and geostrategic cooperation between the two states. The study would demonstrate the stance of China and Pakistan on economic cooperation and interdependence leading to development of the South Asian region as well as generating more opportunities especially for the Pakistan and China to derive maximum benefit from it. Besides, the study will also play a key role in providing a platform for the future researchers as well as providing necessary information to the readers interested in the key area.
Research Questions
o Why China is investing such huge sum of money on China Pakistan Economic Corridor an extension of its One Belt One Road initiative?
o What mutual benefits China and Pakistan are to derive from CPEC?
o What can be the possible challenges in the way of implementation of CPEC to China and Pakistan?
o What possible strategies can be adopted to overcome these challenges?
Research Methodology
The data acquired for the study are mainly through qualitative methods. It is a deductive applied research. The theory of Interdependence has been applied on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and deduced results are explained briefly in the study. The content of the research is mainly analytical and descriptive. The data extracted from various books, journals, articles, newspapers, official reports and magazines are analyzed and the major findings are elaborated in the text. Major portion of the study is based on critical analysis technique. Secondary sources have been used as the main source of data collection. Most of the data are collected by analyzing and critically evaluating the available content from the books, journals, research articles, magazines, published reports, newspaper articles and news reports.
Literature Review
The research examines the role of China and Pakistan as the ever green friends and their embraced cooperation leading to a more globalized and integrated world order in the form of China Pakistan Economic Corridor. China after staying in years of alienation has stepped forward to take an active part in the global politics especially via its extended man power in areas of human resource, development and economic activities. China’s initiative of One Belt One Road primarily aimed at providing the substantiation to the argument that China is an emerging global market as well as a soft power aiming not only to maximize its profits generation but also at maintaining stronger ties with most of the countries in the world augmenting interconnectedness and cooperation. China’s initiative of OBOR (i.e. One Belt One Road) is not only meant to provide large sums of benefits to China but also is destined at promoting both regional and global cooperation as well as communicating and interlocking the biggest island of the World i.e. Africa, Asia and Europe.
Tian Jichen in his article “One Belt One Road; Connecting China and the World” (2016) discussed the principal wide-ranging foreign investments made by China under the umbrella of OBOR. The project is sub-divided into 6 core mega-projects including the China Pakistan Economic Corridor which is at its very heart. China has found itself drawn progressively in the affairs of the countries where its citizens, interests and businesses are found and shows an even greater inclination in case of CPEC due to the very strong ties between the two states since the inception of China in the twentieth century. China Pakistan Economic Corridor as seen by many is another step forward in the progression and enlargement of resilient and adhesive ties among the two countries.[1]
Surendranath and Naren Menon in their article titled “Understanding Beijing’s thinking behind the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” (2016) emphasized upon the unique and exclusive geo-strategic importance of the warm water Gwadar Port. A deep sea warm water port lying at the mouth of Strait of Hormuz adds to its strategic importance and makes it the hub of attraction for Asia as well as Middle Eastern countries for their trade especially the oil transportation. China as an economic hegemon of the 21st Century has very efficiently played its cards in order to gain the maximum benefit from the opportunity of trust-worthy relations with Pakistan. Getting access to Gwadar Port via the land route passing from Pakistan saves it from the verily threats of South-China Sea as well as any naval blockade of the Malacca Strait by India. Overcoming these threats made Chinese think-tanks and policy-makers devise a way to overcome these short-comings, so they came up with the very attention-grabbing proposal to Pakistan in the form of CPEC.[2] Furthermore, Saeed Akram in his article (2017) “CPEC and Gwadar Sea Port-Changing face of Pakistan” stressed upon the significance of Gwadar Port and highlighted its significance
due to the draft depth of 20 meters which means that a mother vessel of 20,000 TEU’s (unit of cargo capacity) would be able to be called at the Port. This intensifies the strategic importance of the Port by making it more significant in comparison to Karachi Port and Port Bin Qasim. Not only this, the Gwadar Port will also play an important role in sharing the burden of transport and trade that initially took place only via the Karachi Port and Port Bin Qasim thus, giving them a sigh of relief from their overburdened activities. Up till now, all the transport and trade that took place via the sea routes of Pakistan were through the only two ports i.e. Port bin Qasim and Karachi Port. Gwadar port set forth new heights for the trade governing relations of Pakistan with other states.
Terrorism is one of the key challenges in success of CPEC. Muhammad Amir Rana in his article “Economic Corridor Challenges” (2015) has discussed various obstacles created by terrorism and the role of the Pakistan military in countering them. The killing of Chinese experts in Pakistan along with terrorist activities and their highly ambitious task of halting CPEC all act as major hurdle towards execution of CPEC. However, in the recent years this aspect has been looked upon and has greatly been resolved by getting security assurances from the Pak Army by the creation of a separate security division responsible for security issues of CPEC. The military is aimed at providing safe routes for the Chinese cargo ships as well as ensuring the safety of the Chinese workers in the country.[3] In their article Massarrat Abid and Ayesha Ashfaq (2015) highlighted major challenges to the Economic Corridor. India is one of the biggest regional challenges that CPEC has to come across at the regional level.[4] Since its creation Pakistan has witnessed Indian involvement in its internal affairs especially the ones that are aimed at bringing prosperity and success to the country. As the path of CPEC passes through the disputed territories of Kashmir, Indian PM Narendra Modi, during his state visit to China raised objections regarding the routes of the corridor. [5] The
comments of the Indian Prime Minister clearly depict his assertive attitude towards the very idea of making Pakistan a prosperous state.
The Corridor is a two-way win-win strategy for both Pakistan and China. It is due to this corridor that Pakistan sees a ray of hope to bring it back from the black-out due to energy crisis. Dr. Di Milego as noted by Salman Peerzada claims that CPEC is neither an easy task to achieve nor the most difficult one. CPEC is a ray of hope for the near future and aims at providing maximum opportunities to those being part of it.[6] It would prove to be a milestone in history and even the near future. A very eminent scholar Chohan concludes CPEC as a sense of historicity in the geostrategic analysis of global economic progress that helps to appraise future economic revolutions.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is a current project with growing rates of development and progress. A continuous updating of the data is the need of the hour. A dire need for the policies to enhance the effectiveness and to multiply the advantages driven from the CPEC is needed. Pakistan being the major stakeholder of the mega-project needs to build up policies to turn the tables in its favor. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is an upheaval and a source of revitalization of the Pakistani Economy. Also the materialization of a successful CPEC is the need of the hour, where policies need to be build up in order to ensure that the politics may not hinder the progress.
Theoretical Framework
The second half of the twentieth century has seen a shift in International Relations from military might towards a more integrated and economically interdependent relationship. The trans-boundary interactions have increased and a number of non-state actors have emerged. Liberal theorists such as Joseph Nye and Robert Keohane in the late twentieth century saw these trends as sources of building up a new international order characterized by great levels of interdependence. Their major focus was linking the interdependence with accentuating peace. However, China Pakistan Economic Corridor would serve the purpose of revitalization of Pakistan’s socio-economic sphere. Despite the power parity between China and Pakistan, the Economic Corridor that would turn the tables in favor of Pakistan being the chief stakeholder of the mega-project. Also, all the main routes of the corridor and major economic activities would be concentrated over the land of Pakistan making it the hub of economic activities. The Corridor would be a game-changer for Pakistan rejuvenating its economy and helping it regain its lost glory.
The Road to Riches
The 2013 initiative of One Belt One Road (OBOR) has led China to new heights of global economic market and also is one of the prime components of the Chinese economic diplomacy. The essence of OBOR is associated with connection of regional and inter-regional actors through economic interdependence. The development of new Silk Road is the prime motive of the Chinese in order to increase their economic relations with rest of the world.
The CPEC is one of the chief components of OBOR and would provide China access to the developing markets of Pakistan, Middle East and Africa while providing it with huge opportunities to sell its goods. The 21st century mercantilism followed by the Chinese endorses the principle of global trade led by the government. This globalization under the influence of the government would allow an extensive cash flow into the country enabling its growth rates to expand extensively.[7]
The OBOR comprises of two strings i.e. the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) and the Sea Road Economic Belt (SREB). The Maritime Silk Road starting from the eastern provinces of China is aimed at connecting various seaports in the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf while providing vast channels of routes from the Pacific Ocean to the Baltic Sea.[8] The second component under the Umbrella of OBOR is the SREB which provides extensive networks of roads and railways networks all across the Eurasian landmass. There are six major projects under SREB including the New Eurasian Land/ Continental Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia Land Corridor (CMRLC), China-India-Bangladesh-Myanmar Corridor (CIBMC), China Central-Asia and West-Asia Corridor (CCAWAC), Indo-China Corridor (ICC) and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).[9]
China Pakistan Economic Corridor: A Milestone for Development
The most exclusive network of interconnectedness among the economies of the world has been designed by the Chinese investors under the umbrella of One Belt One Road enterprise. While all the corridors of OBOR are equally important, no matter whether located in the seas or on land, CPEC has attracted everyone due to its strategic location, economic intensification and military significance.[10] After a long period, lining their thoughts and rationalizing the on-going war on terror, Chinese policy-makers offered their ever-green friend, Pakistan, a very eye-catching proposal over the development of Gwadar Port.[11] The project is estimated at about $46 Billion (which has now reached about $62 billion)[12] investment in Pakistan by the Chinese in order to provide Pakistan with capitals to overcome its energy short-comings and to overrule its blackouts as well as assisting it in the up gradation of its infrastructure.[13] It is the biggest ever foreign investment received by Pakistan in its past history.[14] CPEC would not only help Pakistan and China heighten their relations but also would pave ways for the regional integration and increased investment opportunities in both the states. Besides, this eye-catching project would also help build up a vast network between the oil-rich Gulf States and the biggest oil-consumers i.e. the East Asian belt (including China, Japan, and India followed by South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan etc.).[15]
Gwadar Real Estate[16]
In order to strengthen its economy and overcoming the high demands of resources, the CPEC is an exemplary development in the today’s world by the Chinese mentors. Gwadar Port, the ‘Crown Jewel’ of CPEC is strategically located in warm waters of the Arabian Sea and surrounded by South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Above all, the port lies at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz that is gateway for about one third of the oil being traded.[17] China with its growing energy demands imports most of its oil from the Middle East via the Malacca Strait which currently takes about 45 days to reach China.
Benefiting the Cores: A Win-Win Strategy
The CPEC is a mega-project proposed by the Chinese premier Li Keqiang in May 2013[18] that will act as a flagship project of the extended OBOR aimed at connecting nearly 3 billion people from Asia, Europe and Africa.[19] The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is at the very heart of One Belt One Road and its significance is further enhanced as it acts as a bridge between the land routes and the sea routes of OBOR. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an extension in the strategic and political friendship of China and Pakistan and its entrance into a new phase of strong economic ties.
CPEC is a 3,218 km long network of dry ports, roads and railways which connect the warm water seaport of Pakistan i.e. Gwadar Port to the South Western city of Kashgar in China.[20] It embraces an extensive network of roads, railways and various pipeline projects many of which are under-construction. The corridor would boost the economic investment opportunities from all round the world and would play a vital role in enhancing the regional connectivity and stability.[21] The corridor is aimed at providing numerous benefits to both China and Pakistan and also to the Eurasian and African land mass.
Benefits to Pakistan
CPEC aims at providing huge benefits to the developing state of Pakistan. The four major portions in which the CPEC would play a key role helping Pakistan include the energy projects, communication infrastructure, Gwadar Port and International airport and the Industrial zones.[22] The project would help the state in up gradation of its infrastructure, dealing with its energy shortfalls, aiding the state to combat terrorism, dealing with the employment issue and also help in creating a huge number of foreign investment opportunities. The project would lead towards massive economic investments in Pakistan reducing the economic burden and leading towards a politically and economically stable state working for the welfare of its citizens. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor with Gwadar at its heart would help in the development of the Balochistan province at most.[23] The successful implementation of the project would create vast opportunities for the Baloch people by allowing them to play their decisive role for the prosperity of their country. CPEC would provide core benefits to the people by providing them with huge investment and trade opportunities and also assisting them in economic progress of the province.[24]
Not only for the Balochistan province, the Corridor would also prove to be an equally significant project for the entire; the three alignments comprising of extensive road networks would play an important role in connecting the entire country. The biggest benefits that Pakistan is to derive include its economic revival as CPEC would play a pivotal role in stimulating the economic activity across Pakistan and linking the country to the regional economic hubs thus ensuring enhanced geo-economic stakes from the globe.
Gains for China
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is to provide equal benefits to China and its importance can be reflected by the inclusion of CPEC into the 13th Five year Development Plan of China.[1] The China Pakistan Economic Corridor will provide the shortest possible trade to China by shortening its distance from 12,000 km by sea to only 3000 km through land i.e. from Gwadar in Pakistan to Kashgar in China.[2] The Economic Corridor would further help China by reducing its dependence on the straits of Malacca which carries around 80% of Chinese sea borne trade.[3] The successful implementation of CPEC would enable China to address the grievances of its Western provinces which have so far seen negligence from the central government.
Challenges to China Pakistan Economic Corridor The multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would not only benefit the core areas, it also promises prosperity and assistance to areas connecting it. Because of the Corridor’s exemplary initial accomplishments and great successes achieved in the very beginning it has become a source of great concern for those opposed to this project. Despite its many advantages,
the project has been facing great of risks and challenges, most of which are due to differences in opinions of the major stake holders and the lack of consensus on common grounds. Another major challenge is directed by the neighboring states which strongly oppose CPEC due to their traditional rivalries, especially with Pakistan.
The prosperity and success that the Corridor aims to bring to the states of Pakistan and China are one side of the coin which is the idealistic version of CPEC while the other side is representative of the harsh realities and the challenges which these states may face in their way to the execution of the project. The challenges that experts have identified to hinder efficacious accomplishments of CPEC are both internal as well as external. Most of the internal challenges are due to lack of consensus of all parties on allocation of resources and the nationalist movements especially in the Western provinces of Pakistan. Another factor posing serious impediments is the presence of terrorists and the extremist groups in Pakistan. These groups are aiming to destabilize the country aided by external forces that are doing all they can to halt the CPEC. The challenges can be divided into three broad categories: political challenges, economic challenges, and security challenges.
Conclusion:
The geostrategic environment of the South Asian region is changing rapidly as the world powers are redefining their roles in the region. The growing nexus of US towards Asia has already been sensed by the Chinese experts and so comes the huge investment policy motivated by a range of factors especially strengthening its ties with an existing ally, constructing friendly relations with neighbors, building up advantageous trading routes, bypassing hostile areas and shifting focus to regionalism. In this way, the building of CPEC served the multipurpose ambitions of China as it led to increased regionalism with increased friendly relations with member states of the region.
China’s urge to become a recognized soft power of the world has served as the motivation behind the greater One Belt One Road initiative. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is the lynchpin of One Belt One Road as it connects the OBOR’s maritime routes to the mainland nodes. The Economic Corridor is serving both countries equally and to ensure its success both countries need to put forth equal efforts. The challenges impeding the pathway of CPEC needs to be addressed and resolved parallel to the construction of the flagship project. The problematic areas of Balochistan, KPK and Xinjian are also the key areas of the proposed route that are also the hub of terrorist activities. In order to ensure the success of CPEC, the security of these areas need to be addressed.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is not only a win-win strategy for Pakistan and China but also provides equal opportunities to the other regional and sub-regional actors. The corridor would function as the source of building up regional peace and harmony while the increased foreign investments due to the attractive opportunities provided under CPEC would serve to facilitate a prosperous South Asian region. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor though an opportunity in itself could be made even better by taking policy measures and removing any hurdles impeding its path. Besides, CPEC is not only an economic corridor but also a symbol of the rock hard ties between China and Pakistan, the ever tested friendship and elevated levels of trust that the states have in each other.
Major Findings
The Economic Corridor is a great opportunity for Pakistan, as it provides Pakistan with an infrastructure up-gradation, solution to its energy crisis, development of the deep sea water port at Gwadar, creation of industrial parks and Special Economic Zones attracting investments from throughout the world. The corridor will act as a game changer by addressing major issues of Pakistan and by providing it with a new economic platform to start up again.
o The China Pakistan Economic Corridor would enable both China and Pakistan to develop and advance the backward areas and would serve as a positive turn for both the Western China and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan. One of the biggest challenges that the Corridor will have to overcome is terrorist element prominent in the region. The up-gradation of infrastructure and spreading a network of transportation linking the remotest areas of both countries would serve to throw open the hide outs of extremist groups
o The Corridor would serve the purpose of eradicating poverty, resentment and grievances that inhabitants residing the less developed areas have. The corridor would not only serve the economic purpose but would also bring prosperity to both states by socio-cultural development and increased employment opportunities serving the local people of both countries.
o Besides being an economic and development Corridor, CPEC would serve the purpose of bringing peace and harmony throughout the South Asian region and even beyond. It would enable the participation of the landlocked Central Asian States and would allow them easy access to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean thereby facilitating their trade activities.
o Some rogue elements within the State especially the extremists residing in the Balochistan province have, with foreign assistance, been disrupting the security conditions of the CPEC. These rogue elements are against the progress and development of the Balochistan province as their hideouts may get exposed and once exposed they would be compelled by the law enforcing agencies to evacuate these places.
o Though the benefits driven from the Corridor are numerous, yet, some states due to their traditional rivalry are still unwilling to accept the corridor. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to China declared CPEC unacceptable. When both China and Pakistan continued their efforts on CPEC, Indian intelligence agencies made efforts and used back doors i.e. espionage and other such acts to disrupt CPEC related projects.
o The creation of Chahbahar Port in Iran with Indian assistance near to the Gwadar Port would provide strong competition. Both India and Pakistan are intensely trumpeting over Gwadar and Chahbahar Port undermining the efforts of one another and trying to access the Central Asian Republican states. This competition between traditional rivals may entail future conflicts in the region.
o The difficult geography of the route joining China and Pakistan is one of the biggest impediments in success of CPEC. The Khunjerab Pass remains closed throughout winter from November to May.
o The granting of the operational rights of Gwadar to China and the apprehensions arising in case of creation of a Chinese Naval base at Gwadar may affect Pakistan’s autonomy over its own territory. Many scholars argue that in such a condition, Pakistan may lose its autonomous control over its own territory and China may misuse the territory for its own gains neglecting Pakistan’s national interests.
Recommendations
The way forward to overcome the challenges and to create opportunities making CPEC more beneficial:
o The Baloch insurgents are just mercenaries who are being funded by foreign powers. These foreign powers need to be first recognized and identified by the intelligence agencies. Not only this, the impact of these foreign agencies needs to be counteracted through counter intelligence measures and defining laws against any mercenary from within the state supporting these agencies achieving their goals.
o The economic deprivation faced by Baloch community since the inception of Pakistan needs to be met under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. These grievances can be encountered by giving quota to the Baloch people in jobs and royalties. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor should ensure local empowerment on priority basis in order to generate goodwill and popular support guaranteeing success of CPEC. The ambitious enterprise if granted its due share of industries and investment in Balochistan province would help changing the existing attitude of the people.
o CPEC is going to bring the much needed economic stability to the country. The local industry will face a big influx of Chinese products and result in a healthy competition but the local industry will require attention from the government to support it. The increased economic activity will have to be checked at all levels for transparency of the investments and credibility of investors.
o The due economic share of CPEC should be given to all provinces especially Balochistan. Here, transparency can play a decisive role. The data and statistics relating to each and every project under the domain of CPEC should be provided publically and be easily accessible, so that there would be very little chance of tampering at any level of development.
o It should be noted that the project is equally important to the welfare of the state no matter which political party is in power. There is a need to ensure that the governments may change but the policies should not change or hinder the progress of CPEC and the plans for the CPEC should continue smoothly in every government. China has already shown its contentment over the current political crisis by saying that “CPEC is not a deal with a person, but with Pakistan”. CPEC should remain an agenda for every government till its completion.
o One of the goals of China behind the materialization of CPEC is to develop its backward areas especially the Western China. A similar initiative should be taken by the Pakistani agencies ensuring the development of the backward areas especially Balochistan and FATA regions. Such developments would play decisively in eradicating terrorism.
o The creation of Chahbahar Port though creates competition over the reserves in the Middle East and serving the CARs, a new era of cooperation via mutual cooperation between Iran and Pakistan can lead towards greater level of integration ensuring regional peace and harmony. This way both Gwadar and Chahbahar Port can serve the purpose of generating economic activities in the region and guaranteeing participation from all around.
o The Chinese investment policy needs to be tackled very considerately. Pakistan should keep in mind the already existing liabilities and loans under the burdens of which it is weighed down. Pakistani policy makers should devise ways to get maximum benefits out of CPEC while ensuring that the country may not get embedded under the loads of the payable loans again.
o Even though Pakistan’s main purpose behind the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is the construction of a transit corridor, Pakistan should keep its national interest higher. It should focus on the establishment of its own industrial zones across the Corridor ensuring the socio-economic development of its citizens and pursuing its national interest.
o The granting of Gwadar Port to China and allowing them the building up of a naval base at Gwadar could be dangerous for the national integrity of Pakistan. The case is similar to the granting of Badaber base to the US during the Afghan war. The lessons learnt from Badaber base must be kept in mind and a policy to keep a continuous check over the Chinese activities in the area needs to be framed.
