Abstract
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), highlighted both by Chinese and Pakistani leadership as the flagship project of Beijing's ‘Belt and Road (BRI) Initiative,’ is essentially a long-term plan for closer economic partnership. It promises immense benefits not only for the two nations directly involve but for the entire region, especially in terms of trade, transit and transportation. But at the same time, the development of sea-ports as part of BRI in general and Gwadar as part of CPEC in particular has provided a context to India to magnify its ‘concerns’ and aim for a renewed naval build-up. Chinese larger strategy is also seen by experts in the region and beyond as starting a new maritime contest in the so-called Indian Ocean. In this background, it seems that CPEC would lead toward increased maritime politics and contestations not only between Pakistan and India but would also involve China and US. Islamabad needs to carefully evaluate its options and develop its strategic response accordingly, involving but not limited to continuous development of its naval capability and an even closer maritime cooperation with China.
Highlights
The epitome of sea power cannot be studied exclusively from the significance of land and aerial powers
The maritime security and politics of ocean highlighted by Alfred Mahan and Julian Corbett have always remained an integral part of maritime strategic thought and politics
The geopolitical intellect of both these scholars always remained an important feature of the discourse on world politics
Summary
The epitome of sea power cannot be studied exclusively from the significance of land and aerial powers. The signing of an economic corridor agreement with Islamabad, i.e., China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), in 2013, while essentially an initiative for a robust economic partnership, has been seen in the light of Beijing’s perceived geostrategic ambitions to influence South Asia, by some regional and extra-regional countries. Both the states have already initiated the development of Gwadar Port as a modern harbour along with several other economic initiatives. The fundamental objective of the paper is to provide critical appreciation of security challenges that may result out of fears of neighbouring states from CPEC in particular and Chinese Maritime Silk Road in general
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