Pakistan-China Defence Pact

on November 29, Pakistan and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further deepen cooperation between the two countries’ armies. The MoU on enhancing cooperation between the two armies came against the backdrop of regional security situation. Pakistan and China have already strategic partnership and recent changes in the region further pushed the two ‘all-weather iron brothers’ to closely cooperate with each other.

Pakistan and China are bound in everlasting ties of love and friendship. The long lasting, deep and strong fraternal ties between the two countries are based on mutual trust, confidence and respect, so the changes that have taken place at the international level have never had an effect, but the relationship has improved over time.

Amidst the fast-changing regional scenario after the signing of BECA agreement between India and the United States, China and Pakistan have scaled up their cooperation in defence field as both countries inked, on November 30, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for enhancement of defence cooperation between their armies. The pact, which was signed during the visit of Gen Wei Fenghe, Minister for National Defence of China, is aimed for scaling-up military ties between China and Pakistan to a ‘higher level’ to jointly deal with ‘risks and challenges’ faced by both countries. On this occasion, the visiting dignitary said, “We should push the mil-to-mil relationship to a higher level, so as to jointly cope with various risks and challenges, firmly safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the two countries, and safeguard the regional peace and stability.” It is to be noted here that China is already a major defence supplier to Pakistan, providing the fighter jets to modern naval frigates and other major armaments.

To say that the Pakistan-China relationship is a close, deep and continuing one would be to state what has been obvious for many years, rather decades. Their bilateral bonhomie is bound in everlasting ties of love and friendship. The long-lasting, deep and strong fraternal ties between the two countries are based on mutual trust, confidence and respect, so the changes that have taken place at the international level have never had an effect, but the relationship has improved over time. China has always strived to make Pakistan one of the developed nations and is always ready to work side by side in all areas including, economic, energy and defence. From cooperation in aviation from Pakistan to the exchange of delegations in trade and cultural fields, the two countries have only grown closer. Both countries have also joined hands to counter any moves to establish hegemony in this part of the world by any country. Since it is a known fact that the Unites States is hell bent on making India a powerful country in this region so as to act as a pawn in its larger ‘Containment of China’ policy, it is inevitable for both the countries to enhance their defence ties.