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اتوار، 19 دسمبر، 2010

Understanding China

 China`s core interest policy support Pakistan`s policies on Kashmir, keeping Pakistan united, protecting its two-Nation theory vision, restoring Pakistan as welfare state in accordance to protect public, and strengthen nationalism.
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By Dr Rizwan Ghani

China’s PM Wen Jiabao visit to Pakistan is going to be a landmark occasion for both states and their people. It is therefore very important to understand China to further deepen Pak-China relationship at state and people-to-people level for sustaining the “unique” relations between both states. China’s adoption of “Peaceful Development” Plan for China’s Economic and Social Development. President Hu Jintao as CPC Secretary General proposed in the plan in 5th Plenary Session of 17th CPC Committee, which was adopted in 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).

The Plan has five principles. First, the peaceful nature of development. China will not engage in invasion, plundering, war or expansion. China will serve world peace and integrate development with peace. Second, China will pursue independent diplomatic policy, policy of self-reliance in national development through reliance on reform, expanding domestic demand and transforming economic growth pattern. Third, Public interest will be held supreme during sustainable development. Fourth, as member of international society, Beijing will pursue cooperative nature of development to serve its own and others’ interests. Fifth, common development. China’s national interests are consistent with the common interests of mankind. In developing itself, China aims to achieve common development with other countries and not at the expense of others. It follows the policy of live and let live. The plan will help Islamabad and people of Pakistan further understand China that aims to use peace, cooperation and win-win strategy for collective development.


China’s foreign policy of peaceful coexistence is part of the plan. It is opined that it is a very different approach from relying on tit-for-tat tactic. Beijing reject’s interference in others’ internal affairs, it will not use or threat to use force, and it would not enter into alliance with any country. Beijing follows the win-win strategy of opening-up and it will never adopt the beggar-thy-neighbor policy. Beijing supports development and protection of common interests and strives to make the pie of common interests improved. Beijing stands for settlement of disputes and conflicts through dialogue and negotiation and by seeking common ground while shelving differences. It has helped to enhance mutual understanding and trust, seek strategic consensus, expand common interests and reduce troubles and setbacks. Islamabad can make us of this policy to help resolve Kashmir issue in accordance to UN Resolutions to bring peace and economic prosperity in the region.

China’s core interests are its form of government, political system, stability, socialist system and socialism with Chinese characteristic, and China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity. Concerning Taiwan, China pursues the basic principle of “peaceful unification and one country, two systems”. China opposes selling of weapons to Taiwan and maintains that it is not conducive to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and runs counter to the trend of peace, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region. Similarly, Beijing opposes any interference in Tibet. Beijing welcomes upholding of international laws in terms of use of international waters in South China Sea and recognizes history of occupation important in addressing disputed Islands. Beijing takes violations of international law as threat to its national security. China’s core interest policy support Pakistan’s policies on Kashmir, keeping Pakistan united, protecting its two-Nation theory vision, restoring Pakistan as welfare state in accordance to constitution to protect public, and strengthen nationalism.

China defense policy is defensive in nature. Its military is upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity, safeguarding its more than 22,000 km-long land boundary and 18,000 km-long sea boundary, and ensuring development in a peaceful environment. It is driven neither by arms race nor by the desire to seek hegemony or expansion. Compared to United States, China’s military spending is minimal both in aggregate and per capita terms and cannot pose a threat to other countries. China’s military transparency has been rising over the past decades. Its strategic intent, in particular, is more transparent than many other countries, especially some major powers. For example, China has openly declared to the world that it will never seek hegemony. China is committed to no first use of nuclear weapons and no use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. This policy can contribution to world peace, stability and development. Pakistan’s defense policy including its nuclear program and first use of nuclear weapons is equally defensive in nature, and it is linked to minimum deterrence to protect and uphold country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As part of people-to-people contact, China can win hearts by helping Pakistan adopt renewable energy in domestic sector (20 percent of total energy output) and small and medium enterprises to free the public from predatory electric and gas companies, and generate and or revive millions of jobs. Beijing can help replace outdated energy infrastructure with “smart grids” in Pakistan. It will help free public and the country from the clutches of international donors, revive economy and return Pakistan on its feet. China is adopting state of the art infrastructure to strengthen and sustain its economy, bridge the gap between rural and urban China and reduce poverty. In road and rail networks, it has established its superiority. The case in point is high-speed train. It has won railway contracts in US. It is leading in building vessels for military and maritime use, heavy infrastructure and light steel. Pakistan can benefit from China’s expertise in these areas.

China has transformed its justice system, standards of transparency and revised capital punishment to end corruption. China’s judiciary has standardized punishments to cut delays and bring transparency in the system. The working in government departments is getting transparent. The state is encouraging public and media to protect public. Beijing is using capital punishment to fight corruption. The execution of vice president of China’s Central Bank, high ranking police officials and others found involved in corruption leaves no doubt in mind of the public that government is sincere in its efforts to end corruption.

China has issued a National Human Rights Action plan 2009-10. It is a comprehensive plan guaranteeing: social, economic and cultural rights; civil and political rights, rights and interests of ethnic minorities, women, children, elderly people and the disabled; and performing International human rights duties and conduction exchanges and cooperation in field of International human rights http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-04/13/content_7672483.htm. The strengthening of human rights will benefit public of China and Pakistan and it will help end violations of human rights in the region and rest of the world. It is therefore hoped that both Islamabad and Beijing will take necessary steps to end extra-judicial killings in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Palestine and help such people get access to justice, which is their universal right.

Finally, China has transformed into a mature nation, which is guided by its ideals and visionary leadership, and the changes help understand China better.

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