From Diplomatic Policies to Strategic Partnership: Case of Pakistan, China and Iran

Abstract

This paper looks at the changing strategic alliance between China and Iran and evaluates the implications of such an alliance for the foreign policy of Pakistan, security in the region, and economic opportunities. Traditionally, China-Iran relations were built on cautious diplomatic relations from the beginning of the formal relations in 1971 to the more pronounced strategic partnership based on economic, energy, and geopolitical relations. This was enhanced by the signing of the 25-year comprehensive cooperation agreement in 2021 that further institutionalized cooperation in the energy, infrastructure, technology, and security domains, most notably with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The study identifies the geopolitical issues behind this union, such as Iran being strategically located between Asia and Europe, China increasing energy security, and the necessity of these two nations to offset US influence in the region. The paper describes the influence of systemic pressures, competition of power in the region, and economic interdependence on the strategic alignment between China and Iran using the theoretical approach of structural realism. Qualitative research approach, which is the secondary data, i.e. academic literature, policy reports, and official agreements, is applied, and thematic analysis is applied to determine the major patterns in the political, economic, and security cooperation. The results show that even though the China-Iran relationship is a factor in the new multipolar relations and regional connectivity, it also poses an opportunity and a strategic challenge to Pakistan. The positive side of the situation is that Pakistan can gain regional trade, energy integration, and connectivity by investing in such projects as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), yet it should not forget to balance its relations with Iran, China, the Gulf states, and the Western powers to be able to sustain its strategic stability and diplomatic flexibility.