Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR)

China's military and security relationship with Pakistan

 Printable version

How does China's military and security relationship with Pakistan effect regional stability? The Heritage Foundation's article explores these issues in her testimony to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission of 20 May 2009. Until recently, China and Pakistan have cultivated a strong military and security relationship. However, recent events between the two countries mean that US policymakers may find more opportunities to work with China to increase regional stability in South Asia.

China's historical relationship with Pakistan is based on political and economic interests. The relationship became significant during the period of Sino-Indian hostility from 1962 to the 1980s. During the 1980s and 1990s China continued to provide scientific expertise to Pakistan's nuclear weapons, ballistic missile programmes, and development of a deep-sea port at the naval bas Gwadar in the Arabian sea. By continuing this military relationship, China keeps India in check by threatening a two-theatre conflict.

Recently, the relationship between India and China has improved due to increased bilateral trade. While this leads China to take a more neutral stance on Indian-Pakistan hostilities, China still maintains their relationship with Pakistan as a means of containing India as a growing world power. China remains Pakistan's largest defence supplier and actively supports Pakistan's nuclear programme. Additionally, China's attempt to prevent the September 2008 US-India civil nuclear agreement suggests that they do not willingly accept India's rise as an economic power on the world stage.

However, tensions are rising between China and Pakistan due to recent events relating to the Chinese Uighur separatists and Pakistani islamist extremists. The Chinese discovered that Chinese Uighur separatists received sanctuary and training on Pakistani territory. Several recent instances of islamist extremist attacks on Chinese citizens in Pakistan have further complicated the relationship between the two countries. These include a kidnapping in Islamabad, the murder of three Chinese officials in Peshwar and a suicide bomber attack on a group of Chinese engineers in Baluchistan in 2007. In 2008 a group of Islamist extremists kidnapped a Chinese engineer in Swat Valley.

These events may have convinced China that Pakistan imposes security concerns. This is supported by several recent Chinese actions at the international level:

• Beijing resisted providing Pakistan with a bailout loan in 2008, thus requiring them to accept an International Monetary Fund loan attached to strict conditions for economic reform.
• China joined the 11-member "Friends of Democratic Pakistan" group that supports reforms in Pakistan such as consolidating democratic institutions, increasing economic reform and meeting the challenge of terrorism.
• Beijing has increased pressure on Pakistan to adopt more responsible counterterrorism policies.

United States policymakers must monitor the relationships between China, Pakistan and India as a means of identifying ways to work with China on mitigating Pakistan's security threat. Indications suggest that:

• China's growing concern over Islamist extremism in Pakistan may provide Washington with the opportunity to work with Beijing on better counterterrorism policies. 
• The US should encourage China to use its political power to discourage the stockpiling of nuclear weapons in Pakistan. 
• The US and China should work together to further economic integration and cooperation in South Asia as a means of increasing regional stability.

Access full text