China has strategic interest in Gwadar, Pakistan. As China’s economy is heavily dependent on oil imports from the Arabian Gulf, China has to take a long route about 12000 km to approach the oil market. When oil reaches east-China, it has to travel inlands to reach west-China. Using Gwadar’s Karakoram Highway, oil transportation will be shorter, safer and cheaper. There is no comparison of the natural oil resources and natural oil reserves of the Middle-East. Considering the strategic alliance with China, Pakistan has already committed to proffer Naval-base Gwadar. This was considered a good step for the Pakistan–China alliance in a defensive view. Some analysts claim that China’s Naval control is a threat to Pakistan, while others argue that China is just considering Naval control for strategic development for both countries. China is not interested in the domestic political conflicts in Pakistan’s, but Chinese military presence may cause significant threat to India and US (Malik, 2012).
Long Term Pak-China Strategies:
Utilizing the overland route, China’s effort to outflank Naval-operations of the US in wartimes is admirable. As tracking the exact location is not a problem, Chinese petroleum shipments have great threat from US naval operations and confined Arabian Gulf . For many years, all countries that transport oil via the Strait of Hormuz depend on US security, including China. The Straits of Hormuz was a military opportunity for China, if it is under the security of China. But China didn’t show interest and imported oil from the underground pipeline of Kazakhstan to avoid the Iran and US conflict. If China takes control of the Straits of Hormuz’s security, it will help China to improve its safety and military strength (Sigit & Meresin, 2021). Gwadar is the economic gateway to China. It can make China more worth paying and an economical production centre. Pakistan has already offered installation to monitor commercial and military traffic at the choke points of Hormuz. This Pakistan-China alliance will directly shape events in international business (Malik, 2012).
Geostrategic Location of Pakistan
Pakistan is blessed with a geostrategic location. This location is not only significant for national security of Pakistan but also to monitor Naval activities in the Indian and Arabian Sea. The strategic location of Gwadar is supreme in area, as it connects 3 significant areas like the Middle East (rich in natural oil), South Asia (highly populated) and the Central Asian Republics(rich in economical natural resources). The research study of Hussain (2020) found the distance from Strait of Hormuz to Gwadar is only 400 Km away. Strait of Hormuz is a strategic energy choke point and main supply line of oil to the entire world, as 16-17 million barrels of natural crude oil is routed through it annually. Gwadar has only economic growth potential but it is also a strategic opportunity to maximize the advantages of Sea Lines of Communications in Arabian sea and Indian sea. As Gwadar is trade-hub for 3 areas of the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asian Republics, it is also growing as an alternative to Dubai World Ports, Persian Gulf Ports to handle larger oil shipments. Gwadar has also been welcomed by the Asian Development Bank because it is out of the chokepoints. If all plans are successfully implemented on time, then the Strait of Hormuz to Gwadar route can become Strategic Lines of Communication and trading linkages between the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asian Republics.
Pakistan is rising as a commercial hub for the coming future. Gwadar ports will be equipped with modern shipment handling that will be able to serve the consumer markets in promoting international trade. The Central Asian Republic States, Middle East and South Asia are looking for a feasible business route with the entire world and Gwadar port is being considered as the best option. The Central Asian States depend on Russia for trade of natural resources. They have to consider other possible routes either via Pakistan or via Iran. Unpalatable relationships of Iran with the Western world and the Gulf Kings, future of Gwadar port is a more preferable option. On the other hand European Nations are struggling to get access to mineral and hydrocarbon rich resources through the Caspian Region and via Gwadar and Afghanistan. Political instability and domestic flights must be analysed as a distraction for this CPEC project. The achievements of the CPEC project depend upon its utilizations by the Central Asian Republics, South Asia, Middle East and China. it will create employment, extensive economic activities, regional progress and prosperity. China has been nourishing relationships with the Central Asian Republics (rich in oil & gas resources). Gwadar Port would be able to provide an inland oil supply transit route to China. Gwadar port will not only provide energy security to China, but also provide national security to Pakistan and China by continuous Naval presence. In the worst war case scenarios, Gwadar port can be used as military, Naval and air bases for Pakistan. Gwadar will empower Pakistan and China to prohibit Indian shipments and energy supplies (Hussain, 2020).
Protection of Chinese Nationals:
According to the study of Malik (2012), India-Pakistan conflict in 1971 and also during the Kargil crisis was due to the development of Gwadar. Business threats to Gulf countries also encouraged Indians to destabilize Pakistan. Rising security & safety threats to Chinese and to stabilize Pak-China relations on CPEC, Chinese nationals are given Bullet-proof vehicles to move outdoors (tribune, 2022).
Conclusion
Civilizations had always been established near waters. CPEC is an advanced deep sea port and joint project of China and Pakistan. CPEC will be an economic and energy hub, as it will connect the Middle East (rich in natural oil and gas resources), Central Asian Republics (rich in natural mineral resources) and South Asia(highly populated). Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are rich in natural crude oil, Qatar is rich in natural gas, while rest of UAE is only based on tourism and trade. So CPEC may be threat to other trade-ports and most favourable advanced deep-sea port for Strait of Hormuz chokepoint . CPEC is actually the Entire Regional Economic Corridor. CPEC will resolve energy, trade and national security issues for Pakistan and China. Due to CPEC, China will be able to access the oil market with reduced distances from 12000 km to 3000 km. China is nourishing its relations with the Middle East, Central Asian Republics and South Asian countries for smoothing the CPEC project. In the worst war scenarios, CPEC port can be used as Army, Naval and Air base as Military strategy.
References
Hussain, F. (2020). Geostrategic Imperatives of Gwadar Port for China. The Korean Journal of International Studies, 18(2), 145-167. https://doi.org/10.14731/kjis.2020.08.18.2.145
Malik, H. Y. (2012). Strategic Importance of Gwadar Port. Journal of Political Studies, 19(2), 57-69.
Nurmuhammedov, N. (2017). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Its Geostrategic Importance In Terms of Belt And Road Initiative. Afro Eurasian Studies Journal, 6(1&2), 34-64.
Sigit, & Meresin, A. T. (2021). China’s Geopolitical Strategy in the Strait of Hormuz. Chinese Journal of International Review, 2(2). 10.1142/S2630531320500092
tribune. (2022, Nov 6). All Chinese CPEC workers to move in bullet-proof cars [Pakistan, China agree to strengthen LEAs capabilities]. Retrieved Nov, 2022, from https://tribune.com.pk/story/2384975/all-chinese-cpec-workers-to-move-in-bullet-proof-cars