Speaking at an event, the Chinese envoy to Pakistan expressed deep frustration over the continuous targeting of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. The ambassador also termed the attacks as “unacceptable”, urging Islamabad to strengthen its security measures and crack down on the anti-China elements operating in Pakistan.
China’s Frustrations
The remarks were made by Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at a conference held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. China has been looking to further its economic ties with Pakistan, with extensive projects like the One Belt One Road initiative, but has instead faced frustrations by the constant delays and hurdles it has encountered in Pakistan.
China had plans to use the Belt and Road project to line up its ambitious Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive bilateral project to improve infrastructure within Pakistan for better trade with China and to further integrate the countries of South Asia. The CPEC is part of the larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to improve connectivity, trade, communication, and cooperation between the countries of Eurasia announced by China in 2013.
The project was launched in 2015, when Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif signed 51 agreements and memorandums of understanding valued at $46 billion. The goal of the CPEC is both to transform Pakistan’s economy—by modernizing its road, rail, air, and energy transportation systems—and to connect the deep-sea Pakistani ports of Gwadar and Karachi to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China and beyond by overland routes.
To complete the projects thousands of Chinese professional workers have been deployed to Pakistan who have expertise in the development and roll out of the extensive projects planned.
However their work has seen continuous delays due to terror attacks on the Chinese nationals from groups operating within Pakistan. Only earlier this month, a suicide attack near Karachi’s airport, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), left two Chinese citizens dead while injuring ten others.
In March, Chinese workers were targeted in Besham, reportedly carried out by affiliates of either Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), resulting in five Chinese fatalities.
China believes that Pakistan is showcasing its complete inability to back the projects after taking massive funding, and is unable to even guarantee the safety of Chinese citizens.
“The security of Chinese citizens is paramount for President Xi,” the ambassador said, adding that this priority has been reiterated in President Xi’s discussions with Pakistani leaders.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang’s recent visit was conducted under “unique circumstances,” due to the continuous attacks on Chinese workers. China’s expectations for Pakistan to prioritize security was one of the core points discussed. “Without a safe and secure environment, nothing can be achieved,” the Chinese envoy stressed.
Pakistan’s Response
In response to the sharp criticisms from the Chinese officials, Foreign Office Spokesperson Of Pakistan, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday called the statements as “perplexing” and a stark departure from the longstanding diplomatic norms between the two nations.
“The statement from the Chinese ambassador is perplexing, especially considering the positive diplomatic traditions between Pakistan and China,” she said during the weekly media briefing.
At the briefing Mumtaz Baloch also reiterated that the issue has been conveyed at the highest levels, most recently at the SCO meet in Islamabad, when the Chinese Prime Minister met with Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif.
“We will continue to work closely with our Chinese counterparts to reassure them of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to their security and well-being being here.”
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had responded to Jiang’s remarks by reportedly assuring the Chinese ambassador that no stone would remain unturned to ensure the security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. “(The) Chinese are upset and we must accept our mistakes.” Dar had reportedly said, in what appeared to be a direct admission of the growing strain on the ties between the two countries.
Beijing’s security concerns are expected to be a central focus of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari’s upcoming visit to China. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also previously indicated that Islamabad would directly update Chinese President Xi on the ongoing investigation into the attacks.
It remains to be seen how Beijing takes these assurances from Pakistan. So far, the Pakistani establishment has been unable to secure the safety of the Chinese nationals in its territory. A clearly miffed China is in no mood to accept its nationals being massacred. The open statement is a stark departure from the close knit contact both countries usually operate under. Only time will tell if there are real fissures developing between the two ‘Iron Brothers’.