On June 12, 2020, the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research(CSSPR) hosted ace U.S. scholar and China expert, Andrew Small for a webinar titled “The China-Pakistan Axis.” The webinar was moderated by Director CSSPR, Dr. Rabia Akhtar. Small talked about the history of Sino-Pak relations, how security and defense cooperation provided a base for their solidification. He further dabbled on the implications of shifting dynamics of Sino-US rivalry on China-Pak ties, the continued yet changing role of the India factor in the mix. Small focused on the nature of this relationship, which, according to him, is deeper than many think. He outlined the importance of a stable and strong Pakistan for China; it was within this context that he placed and discussed CPEC. He rebuffed claims that link impediments in the project with China’s so-called sinister designs. Small also talked about China’s forays into Afghanistan, reluctance in the Middle East, and the overall contours of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). He underlined that Sino-Pak relations fit in the entire strategic complex that China is facing. The relations, he said, have risen in significance because of China’s shifting views on nonalignment, allies and friends in the wake of its augmentation of power projection. Below is the video of the webinar. The report of the webinar will be uploaded soon. The video can also be accessed on our Youtube channel.
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