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<p>This study critically examines the evolution of Beijing–Islamabad relations, tracing the shift from a predominantly geostrategic partnership to an increasingly geoeconomic alliance. It challenges three pervasive misconceptions: that the relationship is primarily military, that the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) constitutes a “debt trap,” and that Chinese involvement compromises Pakistan’s sovereignty. Employing a narrative-deconstruction framework and assemblage theory, the paper demonstrates how economic cooperation, infrastructural development, and strategic diversification reshape bilateral dynamics. Comparative loan analyses reveal that Chinese financing terms are often more concessional than those offered by the IMF or World Bank, while energy-sector performance data underscore CPEC’s developmental impact. Far from eroding sovereignty, evidence suggests the partnership enhances Pakistan’s bargaining leverage and policy autonomy. The paper contributes to policy and scholarship by dismantling reductionist narratives, offering empirical insights into debt sustainability, and situating Sino-Pak relations within broader geoeconomic and regional contexts.</p>

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Debunking Misconceptions and Dissecting Key Narratives Vis-a-vis Beijing-Islamabad Relations

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月4日

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  • Ali Abbas,
  • Rana Danish Nisar,
  • Xi Laiwang

摘要

This study critically examines the evolution of Beijing–Islamabad relations, tracing the shift from a predominantly geostrategic partnership to an increasingly geoeconomic alliance. It challenges three pervasive misconceptions: that the relationship is primarily military, that the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) constitutes a “debt trap,” and that Chinese involvement compromises Pakistan’s sovereignty. Employing a narrative-deconstruction framework and assemblage theory, the paper demonstrates how economic cooperation, infrastructural development, and strategic diversification reshape bilateral dynamics. Comparative loan analyses reveal that Chinese financing terms are often more concessional than those offered by the IMF or World Bank, while energy-sector performance data underscore CPEC’s developmental impact. Far from eroding sovereignty, evidence suggests the partnership enhances Pakistan’s bargaining leverage and policy autonomy. The paper contributes to policy and scholarship by dismantling reductionist narratives, offering empirical insights into debt sustainability, and situating Sino-Pak relations within broader geoeconomic and regional contexts.