Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of China
Pakistan's northern neighbor China is the most populous country of the world. The People's Republic of China was established on Oct. 1, 1949. Pakistan recognized the newly established Chinese, government in Jan. 1950. Chiang Kai Sheik's nationalist government after its defeat at the hands of Mao's Communist Party had to take refuge in Taiwan but till long after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Nationalist China, which represented only a very meagre number of the Chinese population, was allowed to retain seat in the UNO.
In 1950, Pakistan took a strong stand that the People's Republic of China had an exclusive right to represent the Chinese people in the United Nations Organization. In 1950 Pakistan remained neutral on the issue of China's occupation of Tibet. Pakistan joined SEATO in the year 1954 and CENTO in 1955. The two military alliances were sponsored by the United States of America and mainly aimed at containing Communist expansion. China naturally had certain apprehensions about Pakistan's membership of these alliances, but in the Non-Aligned Conference held in Bandung (Indonesia) in 1955, Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra assured the Chinese Prime Minster Chou En Lai that Pakistan's membership of the alliances was is in no way directed against the People's Republic of China. Prime Minister Chou acknowledged the explanation by expressing his gratitude for the Prime Minister of Pakistan for his cordial gesture. In the year 1954, Pakistan for the first time, voted against China's membership of the United Nations. The Chinese government observed restraint, and did not even brother to comment on this unfriendly gesture on the part of Pakistan government. Chinese positively knew that Pakistan had done this under American pressure. China did not support India on Kashmir issue. Chinese leadership was fully aware that India had crazy military designs; and aspired to establish hegemony over the region. Had the Chinese taken this Indian attitude as a challenge and retaliated in the same frenzied war spirit, the People's Republic of China had entered into a never ending war with India and she could not have done anything to better the lot of her poor people. China observed restraint, but with Chinese help and support Pakistan was able to engage India to such an extent that India was rendered unable to pose a serious threat to China.
In the year 1962, Indians ventured a military advance into a disputed area on Indo-Chinese border. The Chinese were able to repel Indian forces through brief but rapid military action; they taught the Indians a befitting lesson but were not tempted to prolong the issue.
To resolve the border line issues in 1962 in the war of Indo-China. China defeated India in no time. On the other hand they settled their border line issues with Pakistan in peaceful manners in Feb,1963.
First air transport agreement between Pakistan and China was concluded in the year 1963. It was in the year 1964 that China decided to support Pakistan on Kashmir issue, and since that time her diplomatic support on the issue has remained consistent. In response to this, Pakistan rendered useful support to China, for securing a seat in the United Nation Organization.
During the 1965 Indo-Pakistan-War, China gave Pakistan full support, but in the 1971 war, China could not support Pakistan openly because the Soviet Union stood openly on the Indian side. In the post-war-period, however, China gave Pakistan large scale military and economic aid and helped Pakistan rebuild its economy and recover the damages caused due to war.
Americans traditionally had distaste for Communist governments, they, naturally did not like the establishment of the People's Republic of China in the year 1949. But as the time passed by the American policy towards China changed. Nixon was the first American President, to realize the importance of Sino-American friendship, and it was in his p riod that the American Foreign Secretary Henry Kissinger flew secretly from Pakistan, landed in Peking and had dialogues with the Chinese leadership. The news was made public only after the mission had been successfully concluded. Cessation of hostilities between the two powerful foes paved way for China's membership of the United Nations, twenty-one years after her inception. This was made possible only through Pakistan's good offices.
There is a long list of trade and cultural pacts concluded between Pakistan and China. Heads of state and government have been paying frequent visits to each other's country, most important among these visit were Prime Minister Chou En Lai's visit to Pakistan in 1956, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's visit to China in Feb. 1972.
China has been a close and dependable friend of Pakistan since 1972. The friendship, despite many adversities, has stood the test of time. It has grown and expanded in all directions to include science, technology, education and defence into its fold, side by side with the diplomatic cooperation. Enlisted here are a few projects completed or being carried out in Pakistan with the Chinese assistance.
The Korakorum Highway
Korakoram Highway inaugurated in the year 1978, opened a new era of friendship between Pakistan and China. The volume of trade carried out between the two countries through this route is expanding day by day. Construction of this highest land route in the world, cutting through the formidable mountains, was not an easy task, a great number of Pakistani and Chinese workers laid their lives during the process of tis construction. Korakoram Highway is more than 900 km long.
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra
Military aircrafts are repaired and overhauled in this complex. Pakistan's indigenous aircraft Mashshak was designed and produced completely in this complex.
Gawadar Port
A new seaport at Gawadar (Balochistan) is being put up with the Chinese assistance. It is believed that this new seaport will bring about revolution in Pakistan's economy, improve Pakistan's interaction with the landlocked Central Asian Muslim States, and help Pakistan meet her naval defence requirement in a better way.
Saindak Project
Due to scarcity of resources and absence of technical know how, Pakistan was unable to make use of the large copper deposits found in the province of Balochistan. A big project for this purpose has now been made feasible with the Chinese assistance.
Cooperation for the Improvement of Pakistan Railways
System of Railways in Pakistan is being upgraded and improved with the technical assistance provided by the People's Republic of China. A new train was introduced named as korakorum Express.
Cooperation in the Field of Nuclear Energy
In order to meet its deficiency in the energy sector, Pakistan has built a nuclear power station at Chashma (District Mianwali) with Chinese assistance.
China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
In 2013 Pakistan and China started as set of infrastructure projects, unique in the history of the world. It's worth was estimated at 62 billion dollars in 2020. The project intended to improve china's land and sea access to its consumer markets in a number of countries and to rapidly upgrade Pakistan's required infrastructure and strengthen Pakistan economy by the construction of modern transportation networks, numerous energy project and economic zones. On 13 November 2016, CPEC became partly operational when the first Chinese cargo was transported overland to Gawadar port for onward maritime shipment to Africa and West Asia.
