China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Its Geopolitical Paradigms

Abstract

The geography of a country determines its role in the world affairs. Pakistan is located at a very significant strategic place on the globe. It is situated at the juncture of energy proficient to the energy deficient countries. The Gawadar Port in Pakistan is positioned at the Arabian Sea which is 72 Kilometers far from Iran, 320 Kilometers from Cape al-Hadd in Oman and about 400 Kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz and is connected with the Persian Gulf. Gawadar as a key shipping point may be able to play a key role in ensuring China's energy security as it provides a much shorter route than the current 12,900 km route from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Malacca to the eastern seaboard of China. China has been building its leading role in Asia and beyond for economic and political cooperation through "One Belt One Road". OBOR project has two components: first, the land-based 'New Silk Road'; and second, a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road through a vast network of transport corridors, pipelines, ports and fiber-optic cables spreading across the entire Eurasian landmass connecting East Asia, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Europe. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (hereafter CPEC) is very vital and a joint venture of Pakistan and China to connect Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with the Southwestern Pakistani port of Gawadar. Under CPEC, China will invest $46 billion in Pakistan for the development of infrastructure and energy for the next 15 to 30 years. The four main pillars of CPEC are Gawadar port, communication infrastructure, energy infrastructure and industrial zones. Pakistan will serve as a crucial bridge between China and Central Asia; South Asia and the Middle East. This paper makes an analysis of the strategic parameters of CPEC from both the Chinese and Pakistani perspectives.