THE iron brothers, China and Pakistan, have completed 75 years of their friendship, which is as high as the Himalayas, as sweet as honey, and as deep as the seas.
Indeed, this unparalleled and timeless friendship, spanning half a century, will remain intact for centuries to come.
Diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan were formally established on May 21, 1951.
History is a witness that the foundation of Pakistan-China friendship was laid even before the establishment of Pakistan and the emergence of modern China.
Although China boasts a five-thousand-year-old history, its colonial and imperial system ended just two years after Pakistan’s creation.
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had foreseen that once Pakistan emerged, the Communist Party of China would succeed in its objectives, initiating a strategic bond.
In line with this vision, he sent a delegation of the All-India Muslim League to Chairman Mao Zedong.
Over the past 75 years, this relationship has remained unshaken, immune to regional and global pressures.
Even during difficult times, such as when the world urged Pakistan to distance itself from China, the bond held firm.
A notable example is the Korean War: Pakistan, then a member of Western alliances like SEATO and CENTO, was asked by the U.S.to send troops to Korea.
Despite being reliant on Western loans, Pakistan withstood the pressure because the Quaid had a clear strategy—our national and economic interests were firmly tied to China from the beginning.
At that time, China was a struggling nation, yet Pakistan chose principle over expediency.
While Pakistan’s relations with the U.S.have seen ups and downs, the Pakistan-China relationship has remained exceptional.
There is no parallel in diplomatic history to this unbroken, enduring alliance—one rooted in shared vision, unwavering trust, and a strategic foundation laid at the inception of both nations’ modern journeys.
Today, some claim that Pakistan has not maintained balance in its relationship with China.
But if that were true, would Wah Cantonment, Taxila, and Kamra exist as they do today?
Would the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant—now advancing toward its fifth generation—have been possible?
Would Pakistan possess JF-17s, submarines, ships, and J-10C fighter aircraft?
Our political, military, and national institutions are aligned on China, and the younger generation must not remain confused about this.
On the Kashmir issue, who stands with us?
In the war against terrorism, who supports us at the UN Security Council?
China’s philosophy is one of partnership, and our relationship is not just an alliance—it is a strategic cooperation.
This began with the 1963 border agreement and evolved into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
CPEC is not a single deal nor merely a dream signed into reality by President Xi Jinping in 2015—it is a deep strategic vision.
Chairman Mao in 1949 called Pakistan “our northwestern window,” outlining this vision early on.
From Khunjerab to Gwadar, China has given us infrastructure, ports, and industrial zones.
Yet, what have we done?
Instead of realizing its full economic potential, we have reduced CPEC to real estate ventures.
This misdirection must be corrected to honour the strategic depth of this enduring partnership.
The strategic significance of Balochistan cannot be overlooked.
The United States, Western powers, and India have long targeted its resources, making it a focus of global imperialism.
Interestingly, Chinese literature mentions no “Phase 2 of CPEC”—the project truly began with the groundbreaking of the Karakoram Highway.
Why did we sacrifice from Aramchi to Abbottabad?
What was the ultimate aim?
The 2021 inauguration of Gwadar Port marked the completion of two major phases of the corridor, with the third transforming the Karakoram Highway into an all-weather route.
Though finalized in 2006, CPEC’s formal launch, planned during President Hu Jintao’s 2008 visit, was postponed due to terrorism from 2005 to 2012.
As terrorism resurfaced, 2013 saw its revival.
Originally named the “Pakistan-China Energy Corridor,” it was later renamed “Economic Corridor.
” Unlike typical five- or ten-year plans, CPEC aligns with China’s century-spanning vision.
From its founding, China aimed to eliminate extreme poverty by 2021 and rise geopolitically by 2049.
Once so impoverished that people merely asked if one had eaten, China now holds $18 trillion in reserves and stands as a global force.
The People’s Republic’s continuous progress offers a striking example of what long-term, visionary planning can achieve—something Pakistan must also emulate to realize the true potential of CPEC.
The Chinese believe that no nation can attain development, freedom, and autonomy until the last individual in the farthest village of its state benefits from prosperity.
It is the Chinese people about whom Allama Iqbal remarked in 1936, “The heavy-sleeping Chinese are beginning to awaken; the springs of the Himalayas are beginning to bubble.
” This was the time when the Communist Party was conducting its Long March for rights and freedom.
In truth, the competition between the United States and China for superpower status is a clash of cultures and governance systems.
To encompass the present and future of the People’s Republic of China, it is essential to conduct research with knowledge and understanding.
It has long been said that China would fail within its system; however, when the Soviet Union collapsed, it became clear that Chinese communism is different from that of Russia.
The paths of Russia and China had diverged as early as 1954.
The Soviet Union sought a uniform system worldwide, centred in Moscow, whereas China’s distinctiveness lies in socialism.
China has conveyed to the world that every country and state should adopt a system that aligns with its nation and character.
Their second aim is to elevate the nation and people to the top geo-strategically and politically by the year 2049.
Xi Jinping has been given the mandate to fulfil these objectives.
Prior to him, Mao Zedong governed for 27 years.
To be truthful, today we too need the spirit of struggle, the passion, and the drive for progress that the People’s Republic of China exemplifies.
—The writer is Chairman, Tehrik Jawanan Pakistan. (abdullahhamidgul1@gmail.com)
