The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: What It Is, How It Is buildup, and What It Means for the World

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As the world’s fifth-largest economy, China is locked in an ever-longer economic battle with the United States. While Washington has been busy shaking up its traditional oil and gas infrastructure to make it less dependent on foreign oil and gas, Beijing has been busy building new sea highways, railway lines, and roads to connect its western provinces with their neighbors to the south and east. This “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” (CPEC) project is one of these projects — a network of roads, railroads, and energy pipelines that stretch from Pakistan’s western border with India through mostly Muslim-majority China to the restive Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the far south. When completed, CPEC will help Pakistan become a regional power by connecting its vast northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with its southern neighbor. It will also help it become less dependent on India for trade and energy. The CPEC project is controversial not only because some Indian leaders see it as an attempt by Beijing to take over their country, but also because it cuts through territory disputed between the two countries — Kashmir. In other words, this corridor directly threatens to turn parts of Pakistan into a war zone where terrorist groups fight each other or manage to slip across into India.

An Evolutionary Journey Into the Heart of Asia

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, also known as the “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor”, or CPEC, is a route through Asia intended to connect western Pakistan with eastern India via a route through Central Asia. The route is part of a network of land and sea links connecting western Asia with eastern Asia, spanning more than 2,000km (1,300mile). Once completed, the CPEC will enable Pakistan to become a regional power because it will provide a cross-border route for trade and investment from both Asia and Western Europe, as well as a conduit for natural gas from Russia and China. It will also improve the country’s already strong financial position, making it more attractive as a potential trading partner for the East Asian countries of Japan, South Korea, and China.

CPEC: What It Is, How It Works and What It Means for Pakistan

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a politically-chosen name for a project intended to help promote trade and economic development between the two countries. The idea is that while India has been building the Western Corridor since the 1980s, China has been building the Eastern Corridor since the 1960s, with the idea of linking these two regions through such a route. The route through Pakistan is predominantly agricultural with small-scale agriculture and livestock being the mainstay. The main economic areas on the route are located in the Punjab and Sindh provinces, with major cities including the border city of Abbottabad, the provincial capital.

China-India tensions over CPEC

The main reason the CPEC is so important for Pakistan is because it allows India to once again have access to the sea and the ability to project power in the region, as well as access to a route that would otherwise be used only by China. While it is too early to tell if tensions between the two countries will increase in the wake of the CPEC, it is already attracting more publicity than ever, both because of the route’s potential to affect regional security and the potential for major conflicts.

Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan

One of the most significant developments in the wake of the CPEC is the inclusion of Pakistan in the ranks of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is the council that includes the United States, China, Russia, and France. The move comes as a surprise to many since Pakistan has felt neglected in the past few years following the conclusion of US-backed coup d’etat in Pakistan in 2001.

Where the corridor will run

When it comes to the route of the CPEC, the controversy surrounds the way in which the federal government has chosen to set it in motion. The federal government will begin construction of the new routes in the west and south of the country, with a view to starting construction of the eastern route in the near future. The western route is expected to diverge from the existing route about 20km (12 miles) west of Sialkot, and a further 8km (5 miles) east of Swabi. The eastern route will run from the head of navigation (hopeless) in the Arabian Sea to the Assam River, with a further 1,200km (1,000 mile) stretch to be completed along what is now the border with Nepal.

Potential impacts of the corridor on regional security

One of the most significant impacts of the CPEC will be the expansion of the Afghan National Army’s expertise in intelligence and security management. This will allow the Afghan military to better defend itself against both Iran-backed militias and also improve its ability to plan and respond to attacks. It will also strengthen the Afghan government’s hand in handling matters related to cross-border activities such as those involving Pakistan and Afghanistan. Another potent impact will be on regional security. The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will significantly expand the areas where security actors can dispose of and kill their enemies, including both local and foreign nationals. This will allow them to better protect their interests and maintain their power in the region.

Key takeaways

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a major project under construction in Pakistan. The project is believed to have a total investment value of over $100 billion and is intended to increase regional power and influence. The course of the corridor will determine the future of Pakistan and its neighbors, and will also shape the future of the region as well. The CPEC will lay the foundation for greater regional power and influence. The United States has used the CPEC to ensure that the region is not only connected to Asia but also makes use of the route’s wide-ranging benefits. The route will have a significant impact on regional security and can be used as a gateway to North Asia, the Arabian Sea, and Hindu-Arabic World. We hope this blog post has been helpful in outlining the benefits of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for both China and Pakistan. The route will have a major impact on regional security, and will also affect the decisions of states in the region about the future of their country.