CPEC: The Buckle in China’s BRI

Abstract

China and Pakistan, friends in “all weather” recognized each other’s independence and sovereignty in the early 1950s. Chinese President Xi Jinping initially proposed to build an “economic belt” and a “21st-century Maritime Silk Road” in 2013 which were formalized as the BRI in a document, “Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road”, released by the National Reform and Development Commission in 2015. The Belt and Road Initiative is designed to connect places and cities along China’s ancient Silk Road and way beyond. In the realm of innumerable projects, Pakistan is seen as the “Buckle” in the Belt of BRI. Like the BRI, the goal of the CPEC is to boost economic integration and transportation networks. In case of Pakistan, CPEC is seen as a chance to develop stronger ties with China in order to enhance its underdeveloped economy. CPEC has faced several jolts in the restive Balochistan Province. In Pakistan, regions in the CPEC are unevenly developed, with backward energy and logistic infrastructures. The ever-present tussle between the military-political establishment in Pakistan is taking a toll on the various CPEC projects as well. The real challenge is whether best practices can be incorporated in BRI or it will remain only a “Chinese” scheme given that state-owned enterprises play the lead implementing role.