75 Years of China-Pakistan Relations: 'Iron Brothers' Built on Strategic Foundations
Abid Hussain
The 75-year-old relationship between Pakistan and China, from a secret land deal to nuclear cooperation, is built on shared strategic interests, particularly counterbalancing India. While hailed as an 'all-weather friendship,' the relationship is transactional and faces new challenges.
As Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic ties on May 21, official speeches emphasize symbols like 'iron brothers' and a 'friendship higher than mountains, deeper than oceans.' However, the story behind this relationship is far more complex, beginning with a controversial land deal in 1963.
In March 1963, Pakistan transferred control of the Shaksgam Valley, an area of approximately 5,180 square kilometers in the Karakoram range, to China. This is territory India considers part of disputed Kashmir. The decision came just three months after China defeated India in the 1962 border war and is seen as a strategic move by Pakistan to counter Indian claims.
Foundation of Shared Rivalry
Pakistan was among the first non-communist countries to recognize the People's Republic of China in January 1950, only six months after its founding. This move, often praised as progressive, stemmed from strategic necessity: Pakistan needed a counterweight to India.
To this day, the key factor binding the two nations remains their common concern about India. 'If India were not a common threat, the Pakistan-China relationship would be very different,' said Muhammad Faisal, a security analyst.
Hidden Foundations
Two events considered the true foundations of this relationship are rarely mentioned during celebrations. First is the Shaksgam Valley transfer. Second is the nuclear dimension.
After India's nuclear test in 1974, Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto declared Pakistan would achieve nuclear capability at any cost. In 1976, the two countries signed a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement, providing a framework for technology transfers over the following decade. U.S. intelligence assessments suggest China provided weapons design information and enough enriched uranium for at least two nuclear devices. Both governments officially deny this.
When Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in May 1998, China blocked a UN Security Council statement expressing regret over the tests.
Diplomatic Secrets
In July 1971, U.S. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger secretly boarded a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Islamabad to Beijing, paving the way for President Nixon's historic 1972 visit to China. However, Pakistan received no significant reward for its intermediary role.
'Countries that facilitate rapprochement between major powers rarely receive rewards proportionate to what they facilitated,' remarked Maria Adele Carrai, associate professor at Oxford University.
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Islamabad in April 2015, he announced CPEC, a $62 billion infrastructure and energy investment package hailed as a 'game-changer.' However, results so far are mixed.
CPEC has expanded Pakistan's power generation capacity but failed to resolve the sector's debt crisis. In Gwadar, plans to transform a small fishing town into a major maritime hub have encountered local realities. 'The model is more exclusive than inclusive,' said Stella Hong Zhang, assistant professor at Indiana University.
Security remains a major challenge. According to Pakistan's National Counter Terrorism Authority, at least 20 Chinese citizens have been killed in attacks since 2021.
Military and Dependence
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China now supplies 80% of Pakistan's arms imports, up from 73% in the previous five-year period. Pakistan's military has deeply integrated into China's defense ecosystem, from JF-17 fighters to HQ-9 air defense systems.
Financial dependence has also grown. China is Pakistan's largest bilateral creditor, holding about $29 billion in loans, equivalent to 22% of Pakistan's external debt. The trade balance is also unfavorable: in 2025, Pakistan imported $20.2 billion worth of goods from China while exporting only $2.8 billion.
The Future of the Relationship
Analysts say the relationship has entered a 'sobering phase' prioritizing security and economic consolidation. 'Beijing will never let Pakistan collapse because its geopolitical value against India remains too important,' said Zhou Rong, director of the Southern Hemisphere Research Center at the Grandview Institute.
