Pakistan, China and Russia
Rizwan Ghani
Stronger Sino-Russia cooperation is good news for Pakistan. Ahead of SCO heads meeting, Putin made a successful visit of China. In which three strategic decisions were made: increase existing $84 bn bilateral trade to $200bn by 2020. Expand energy and military cooperation between both countries. In Singapore, America simultaneously announced increasing its naval forces to 60 percent in Asia under US China centric Asia-Pacific policy. From India, America announced continuation of drone attacks on Pakistan on the pretext of fake terror. In a parallel move, a military think tank in China issued its first report on US security developments in the region in which it was said that US has shifted its military focus to multi-polar world from (so-called) war against terror.
It allows Pakistan to have its share in $700 bn trade corridor. The Chinese foreign minister wrote in his article on Arab-China cooperation that we should increase our trade volume, regulate trade practices, improve product mix, raise the level of trade, and make every effort to bring our trade to $ 300 billion by 2014. He called for expansion in cooperation in such areas as agriculture, health, culture, quality inspection and energy, and set up exchanges in environmental protection, desertification treatment and other fields. Pakistan has the expertise in the identified fields and huge potential to be an ideal trade and commerce partner in regional cooperation from the south and in turn benefit from $113bn northern Silk Route among SCO members. If Islamabad improves its road and rail networks it can help double the trade in the region along with its share of $50-70 bn as compared to single digit trade agreements with western allies.
Putin has outmaneuvered America on Arctic by forcing it to pivot to Asia against China. By aligning half a dozen countries against China as part of its Asia-Pacific policy, Washington has fixed itself in Asia leaving Arctic region to Russia. Beijing has also cornered Washington on its support for Philippines in South China Sea on international sea laws. Over 150 states have signed the treaty but US has refused to ratify it for the last 30 years. If Washington signs the treaty, China gets control of its territorial waters and other states will have to respect right of innocent passage of foreign vessels through their territorial waters. America will have to end its military presence in Iranian and Asian waters, block it from using naval ships as bases to wage wars under Obama doctrine of sea-air-rapid military strikes and end US Monroe Doctrine used to block other naval powers in its territorial waters. If Washington rejects the treaty, Putin gets head start in race for the Arctic.
Russias control of Arctic region will change energy policy in Europe and Asia. Most European states will support Russia because Europe cannot overcome 20 percent energy shortfall due to US sanctions against Iran. Russias energy exports to Europe will increase to 60 percent from 45 percent. Norway is already helping Russia in Svalbard and the Shtokman gas field despite fear of pollution by the environmentalists. Going by the BPs ouster from Russia, it appears Putin will block UK from the region altogether. UK therefore will have to stand with Russia or call for end of US blockade of Iran. India will abandon US on Iran because no Indian political party can afford to ignore cheap Iranian fuel in the region. Since India opted out of Pak-Iran gas pipeline, therefore it will have to develop its own energy and trade corridors with China. Pakistan will have strategic benefits from establishment of energy links between Europe, Asia and ME through Pakistan. Pakistan can link Europe and ME. Beijing is all set for it as pointed out by the Chinese Foreign minister ideas about Arab-China strategic cooperation.
The Chinese think tank has shown that America is headed towards multipolar world in which conventional warfare and cold war strategies will resurface. Drones are being used to block Pak-China land routes, free economic zones and keep the region in constant turmoil. Both China has opened tariff free zones on old Silk Route with other CARS as part of Euro-Asia policy to facilitate common people. The border town of Khorgas in China earned $480 million in 2011 (CCTV). US policies in Pakistan are anti-public. The opening of land routes with China could allow sufficient trade but they are blocked repeatedly which forces people to depend on social welfare or leave the areas.
Pakistan is a major country in the region. Its interests cannot be ignored. Pakistan can play a more effective role if it is given advanced technology, necessary resources and cooperation. The development of Pak-China energy and trade corridors will facilitate CARS to link to rest of the world.
Rizwan Ghani
Stronger Sino-Russia cooperation is good news for Pakistan. Ahead of SCO heads meeting, Putin made a successful visit of China. In which three strategic decisions were made: increase existing $84 bn bilateral trade to $200bn by 2020. Expand energy and military cooperation between both countries. In Singapore, America simultaneously announced increasing its naval forces to 60 percent in Asia under US China centric Asia-Pacific policy. From India, America announced continuation of drone attacks on Pakistan on the pretext of fake terror. In a parallel move, a military think tank in China issued its first report on US security developments in the region in which it was said that US has shifted its military focus to multi-polar world from (so-called) war against terror.
It allows Pakistan to have its share in $700 bn trade corridor. The Chinese foreign minister wrote in his article on Arab-China cooperation that we should increase our trade volume, regulate trade practices, improve product mix, raise the level of trade, and make every effort to bring our trade to $ 300 billion by 2014. He called for expansion in cooperation in such areas as agriculture, health, culture, quality inspection and energy, and set up exchanges in environmental protection, desertification treatment and other fields. Pakistan has the expertise in the identified fields and huge potential to be an ideal trade and commerce partner in regional cooperation from the south and in turn benefit from $113bn northern Silk Route among SCO members. If Islamabad improves its road and rail networks it can help double the trade in the region along with its share of $50-70 bn as compared to single digit trade agreements with western allies.
Putin has outmaneuvered America on Arctic by forcing it to pivot to Asia against China. By aligning half a dozen countries against China as part of its Asia-Pacific policy, Washington has fixed itself in Asia leaving Arctic region to Russia. Beijing has also cornered Washington on its support for Philippines in South China Sea on international sea laws. Over 150 states have signed the treaty but US has refused to ratify it for the last 30 years. If Washington signs the treaty, China gets control of its territorial waters and other states will have to respect right of innocent passage of foreign vessels through their territorial waters. America will have to end its military presence in Iranian and Asian waters, block it from using naval ships as bases to wage wars under Obama doctrine of sea-air-rapid military strikes and end US Monroe Doctrine used to block other naval powers in its territorial waters. If Washington rejects the treaty, Putin gets head start in race for the Arctic.
Russias control of Arctic region will change energy policy in Europe and Asia. Most European states will support Russia because Europe cannot overcome 20 percent energy shortfall due to US sanctions against Iran. Russias energy exports to Europe will increase to 60 percent from 45 percent. Norway is already helping Russia in Svalbard and the Shtokman gas field despite fear of pollution by the environmentalists. Going by the BPs ouster from Russia, it appears Putin will block UK from the region altogether. UK therefore will have to stand with Russia or call for end of US blockade of Iran. India will abandon US on Iran because no Indian political party can afford to ignore cheap Iranian fuel in the region. Since India opted out of Pak-Iran gas pipeline, therefore it will have to develop its own energy and trade corridors with China. Pakistan will have strategic benefits from establishment of energy links between Europe, Asia and ME through Pakistan. Pakistan can link Europe and ME. Beijing is all set for it as pointed out by the Chinese Foreign minister ideas about Arab-China strategic cooperation.
The Chinese think tank has shown that America is headed towards multipolar world in which conventional warfare and cold war strategies will resurface. Drones are being used to block Pak-China land routes, free economic zones and keep the region in constant turmoil. Both China has opened tariff free zones on old Silk Route with other CARS as part of Euro-Asia policy to facilitate common people. The border town of Khorgas in China earned $480 million in 2011 (CCTV). US policies in Pakistan are anti-public. The opening of land routes with China could allow sufficient trade but they are blocked repeatedly which forces people to depend on social welfare or leave the areas.
Pakistan is a major country in the region. Its interests cannot be ignored. Pakistan can play a more effective role if it is given advanced technology, necessary resources and cooperation. The development of Pak-China energy and trade corridors will facilitate CARS to link to rest of the world.