Abstract
The paper reviews the (CPEC) from a security lens. The upshot of CPEC is to bring in peace and prosperity in the region through laying a mix of road networks, railways, and pipelines in this area. It envisions to transform Pakistan by upgrading its economic profile through connectivity with adjacent regions, addressing energy shortfalls, and expanding societal links between Pakistan and China. Both sides perceive CPEC to be a game-changer. However, there are key challenges to establish a sphere of co-security interdependence through CPEC. The core risks and opportunities associated with the implementation of this crucial project are highlighted in this study. The paper dwells on the security dimensions of the CPEC from an integrated conception of security - to stamp the CPEC as a safety valve not only for Pakistan and China but for a host of countries associated with it.
Key Words
CPEC, Security, China and Pakistan, Economics
Introduction
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor is being hailed as the fate-changing investment in Pakistan. Given the status of “distinct advantage”, CPEC is a culmination of major foreign investment projects undertaken by China in Pakistan’s infrastructure, energy, and communication sector (Bina, 2018). The corridor focuses on a 2,000-kilometer road and rail links between Western China and Pakistan. It connects Kashgar to Gwadar port in the Arabian Sea. CPEC comes under the umbrella of a larger Chinese OBOR “One Belt One Road” initiative that encompasses the population of more than 4 billion and an economic output of US$ 21 trillion in Eurasia. Verifiably the Sino-Pakistan relationship will significantly deepen with CPEC from an economic-security point of view and can alter the geo-economic politics of South Asia.
In this context, OBOR is the reflection of regional political integration, humanizing economic development, trade, up-gradation of investing in transportation and energy sectors. By connecting China with Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, OBOR aims to reshape trade and diplomacy. In this context, CPEC will open doors to trade and prosperity not only for Pakistan and China but for Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asian Republics too (Small, 2015).
However, there are credible security threats that encompass both traditional and non-traditional in nature exists for CPEC. Making it imperative for Pakistan to adopt a more sustainable approach to mitigate the challenges. To elaborate CPEC in terms of security dilemmas and goals it’s necessary to first clarify the conception and practice of security nowadays.
Part One CPEC’s Security Matrix – Theoretical Construct
We are no longer living in a military-dominated era and cannot ignore the non-traditional aspects of security. Today, non-kinetic threats ranging from water scarcity, population explosion, food shortages, climatic disruptions, terrorism, spiraling poverty, massive drug abuse, the surge in criminal activities and governance issues and so on – define the international security landscape along with the hardcore military security risks. The reality has given rise to new challenges to state security managers and planners. To rise to the impending economic needs and institute plans in line with the new security dynamics, Islamabad perceives CPEC as a most viable project.
Over the years, the United Nations ‘Human Security’ approach has gradually led to the shifting of the focus from a state-centric vision to a more human security centric-approach. Though, the WTC 9/11 incident and declaration of the ‘war on terror’ subsequently, stressed state security through kinetic means by many including Pakistan. However, the criticality of non-traditional security threats and the interrelationship between hard and soft aspects of security has become more professed.
Details of Terrorist Activities Conducted on CPEC Related Projects
1. 30 May 2016 – IED blast injuring Chinese Engineer in Karachi.
2. 20 Jul 2016 – IED explosion close to New Gwadar International Airport. No loss to human life.
3. 20 Jul 2016 – 20 x Miscreants cordoned OGDCL camp at Gwadar and fired 2 rockets. No loss to human life.
4. 11 Nov 2016 –Firing by Miscreants at road project at Hushab (Turbat)Baluchistan. No loss to human life.
5. 26 Nov 2016 – Ambush by Miscreants on workers of “Coal and Geo Physical Exploration Company” at Nagi, Gawadar. 2 x Private guards died due to miscreant’s fire.
6. 14 Dec 2016 – IED blast on Roadside near “Rohri Batching Plant” (Sukkar Hyderabad Motorway Project). No loss to human life.
7. 10 Jan 2017 - 2 x Motor Cyclists caught with Kalashnikovs at Taranda Sector of Multan – Sukkar Motorway. No loss to human life.
8. 13 May 2017 - Firing by Miscreants on laborers working on a road project near Pishgan, Gawadar. 10 x laborers killed.
9. 19 May 2017 - Firing by Miscreants on laborers working on a road project near Hushab, Turbat. 3 x laborers killed.
10. 11 May 2019 Pearl Continental Hotel attack in Gwadar.
Pakistan’s Measures to Avert Terrorist Threats and Ground Realities
Pakistan recognizes strategic importance according to its economy by China. Islamabad, thus, views CPEC - an economic corridor as mutually advantageous in terms of its long-term development. As per Vision 2025, made public by Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform, the aim is to gradually transition Pakistan towards an upper-middle-income nation (Khawaja,2018). Hence, Pakistan needs to gain the trust of foreign investors and simultaneously make Pakistan an investment-friendly country. The federal government is focusing on improving economic indicators through energy projects and a rapidly expanding infrastructure network which will generate employment (Zhiqin & Yang, 2016).
At the security front the following measures to Avert terror incidents are underway:
• Physical deployment of Army and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) troops on all static and roving projects.
• Deployment of covert security means (Hang Around Security).
• The protected move of Chinese from Airport to Project sites and vice versa.
• Coordination with civilian law enforcement agencies like local Police, Levies, etc.
• Sensitization of Chinese working on various projects about the prevailing security environment and measures taken for their protection.
• The fusion of Civil and Military intelligence agencies on the sharing of intelligence.
• Intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the near vicinity of project sites.
• Employment of private security guards on less threatened sites.
• Clarity on rules of engagement to respond to firing from miscreants.
• Approval of “Terms of Reference” for better cohesion amongst LEAs.
Quantum of Force (Raised or Being Raised) for Security of CPEC:
• Army 15000 (Raising completed and partially deployed)
• Special Police Units (SPU)
Punjab 6000 (Raising completed and deployed) Sind 3000 (Raising in the process) KPK 3000 (Recruitment of 600 individuals completed so far) Baluchistan Nil
Conclusion
The smooth trajectory of CPEC in an envisioned timeframe depends upon the surmounting of multiple complex irritants of internal and external nature. On the security front, despite assurances by the Pakistani government and armed forces, there are many challenges ahead. Given the magnitude of the project and Islamabad’s troubled relations with India, instability in Afghanistan, and tense Iran - the project’s pace may suffer given host of traditional and non-traditional security concerns. As the Project progresses, envious neighbors and outside interferences are likely to increase --- thereby cumulatively compounding the security dimension. Unless multi-pronged measures are stringently implemented, challenges posed by extremism and terrorism in Pakistan cannot be whisked away. CPEC is perceived as a vehicle to foster economic development and stability at home and abroad.
In nutshell, political, cultural, and security challenges facing CPEC and its implementation cannot be left unaddressed:
• Foremost risks are of terrorism, which has long undermined Pakistan’s security and stability.
• Second, a stable political system is necessary for the success of CPEC. Pakistan has always struggled for political stability. Hence, Pakistan needs to ensure stability at its domestic front.
• Third, diverse cultural practices can lead to misunderstandings, and this can undermine the implementation of CPEC projects. For Chinese businesses to be successful in Pakistan, they will need to understand local culture and, norms (Falak, et al., 2015).
There are a lot of measures taken to secure CPEC in diverse dimensions from bilateral to regional and international integration. Securing CPEC from terrorism is the toughest challenge, increased China-Pakistan military cooperation is occurring against the backdrop of intensifying tensions between Pakistan and India (Kaura, Weinbaum, & Zahid, 2016). However, as evident in the swift response of security forces in repelling the attack, Pakistan remains steadfast and ever ready in its resolve to combat all forms of terrorist threats. Pakistan duly recognizes the strategic importance accorded to its relations with China and views CPEC as a mutually advantageous enterprise in terms of not only its long-term economic development but also from a National Security perspective.
Thus, by jointly working together, both countries can surmount these obstacles, provided that they are given the due care and attention required of them. By continuing to believe in its shared vision of regional peace and prosperity, a robust response to CPEC’s security challenges now can greatly reduce the potential security risks to the broader region over the long run. This in itself would serve as direct evidence of how an emphasis on combating more non-traditional risks to regional security can bring about such a massive transformation within the overall international security framework.
In sum, the construction of the “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” is a vital part of China’s “One Belt One Road” strategic vision. It is of great significance for realizing China’s economic blueprint, safeguarding national economic security, promoting the rapid development of West China, maintaining the stability of border areas, and establishing a land-based safe channel to dispel worries about energy security. Pakistan hopes CPEC will bring economic vibrancy, infrastructural development, huge foreign investment, technology transfer, employment opportunities, ending the marginalization of far-flung areas, and more regional, national, and sub-national connectivity. That is, CPEC is an opportunity not devoid of challenges!
References
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- Ali, A. (2016). China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Prospects and Challenges for Regional Integration.Arts and Social Sciences Journal,7(4), 1-5
- Buzan, B. (2014).South Asian insecurity and the great powers. London: Palgrave Macmillan
- Falak, J., Falak, J., Falak, J., Alam, A., Muhammad,S. S., Amin, K., & Qazi, M. S. (2015, June 10). CPEC: Internal Significance and Challenges. Retrieved from http://stratagem.pk/strategic-pulse/cpec-internal-signfigance-and-challenges
- Gul, A. (2016, December 14). Pakistan Forms Special Maritime Force to Secure Chinese-built Port, Projects. Retrieved from https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/pakistan-forms-maritime-force-to-secure-gwadar-port-cpec/28176017.html
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- Harri, B. (2018, May 6). CPEC Security Challenges, and Solutions. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from https://pamirtimes.net/2018/05/06/cpec-security-challenges-and-solutions/
- Kaura, V. G., Weinbaum, M. G.,& Zahid, F. G. (2016, December 20). The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Underway and Under Threat. Retrieved from https://www.mei.edu/publications/china-pakistan-economic-corridor-cpec-underway-and-under-threat
- Khan, H. U. (2018). New Delhi Response to Beijing 'BRI' Project: A Lucid connection with Chinese
- Khawaja, I. (2018, July 29). Vision 2025 score. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1423578
- Leonard, M. (2016).Geo-economics with Chinese Characteristics: How China's economic might is reshaping world politics(pp. 1-34). The World Economic Forum
- Ramachandran, S. (2016, November 16). CPEC takes a step forward as violence surges in Balochistan. Retrieved from https://asiatimes.com/2016/11/cpec-takes-step-forward-violence-surges-balochistan
- Reuters. (2014, November 8). Pakistan says will help China fight Xinjiang militants. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1143134/pakistan-says-will-help-china-fight-xinjiang-militants
- Small, A. (2015).China-Pakistan Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics. S.l.: OXFORD UNIV PRESS U
- Subohi, A. (2017, June 21). Lookingat CPEC costs amid hype. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1330234
- Wolf, S. O. (2016, May 11). Pakistan and Terrorism: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as Critical Juncture? Retrieved from https://www.e-ir.info/2016/05/11/pakistan-and-terrorism-china-pakistan-economic-corridor-as-critical-juncture
- Zhiqin, S., & Yang, L. (2016, December 21). The Benefits and Risks of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Retrieved from https://carnegietsinghua.org/2016/12/21/benefits-and-risks-of-china-pakistan-economic-corridor-pub-66507
- Yara, P. O. (2009). Relationship between teachers' attitude andstudents' academic achievement in mathematics in some selected senior secondary schools in South West, Nigeria. European Journal of Social Sciences, 11(3), 364-369. Available from
Cite this article
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APA : Fayyaz, S., & Malik, S. (2019). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns. Global Regional Review, IV(IV), 432-440. https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2019(IV-IV).47
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CHICAGO : Fayyaz, Shabana, and Salma Malik. 2019. "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns." Global Regional Review, IV (IV): 432-440 doi: 10.31703/grr.2019(IV-IV).47
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HARVARD : FAYYAZ, S. & MALIK, S. 2019. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns. Global Regional Review, IV, 432-440.
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MHRA : Fayyaz, Shabana, and Salma Malik. 2019. "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns." Global Regional Review, IV: 432-440
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MLA : Fayyaz, Shabana, and Salma Malik. "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns." Global Regional Review, IV.IV (2019): 432-440 Print.
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OXFORD : Fayyaz, Shabana and Malik, Salma (2019), "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns", Global Regional Review, IV (IV), 432-440
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TURABIAN : Fayyaz, Shabana, and Salma Malik. "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Security Concerns." Global Regional Review IV, no. IV (2019): 432-440. https://doi.org/10.31703/grr.2019(IV-IV).47