One of the finest initiatives of early Pakistan’s foreign policy was opening up to China during the early 1950s. It is worth noting that Pakistan was the third non-communist and first Muslim country in the world to recognise the People’s Republic of China and establish full-fledged diplomatic relationships with China. Other parts of the world-especially the West-did not recognize the PRC as the sole representative of China and extended Chinese UNO and UNSC seats to Taiwan at that time. Meanwhile, global politics and regional dynamics changed during the 1970s justified China-US relations where Pakistan was a key player in facilitating Henry Kissinger’s visit (July 1971) to China which later on provided the groundwork for President Nixon’s arrival (Feb 1972) at Dragon Doors. Afterwards, China became part of the international community.

Meanwhile, during that period, owing to the convergence of interests, Pakistan and China have fully established political, economic, diplomatic and cultural relations. It is also noted that China didn’t forget the diplomacy and statecraft of Pakistan during the isolation period of China that acted as a bridge between China and the international community. It is not surprising that after becoming the second largest economy in 2010 when China decided to establish BRI- China and Pakistan decided to establish China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Pakistan can’t choose between China and the USA.

Although the genesis of CPEC can be traced back to the late 1950s, the initial groundwork of the project was set by President Musharraf’s era. In 2013, then the government of PPP under........

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