The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, also known as the SCO summit, is being held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on October 15th-16th. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is attending the meeting amid concerns over his visit and China-Pakistan relations following attacks targeting Chinese companies before the event.
Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Islamabad on October 14th, marking his first visit to Pakistan in 11 years. Tight security measures have been put in place for his visit.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established in 2001 and includes ten member countries, including China, India, Iran, and Russia. According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, the summit will be attended by the Prime Ministers of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the Vice President of Iran and the Foreign Minister of India.
Professor Chen Shimin from the Department of Political Science at National Taiwan University, in an interview with Epoch Times, mentioned that given the tense international situation, the SCO meeting in Pakistan, without the presence of Putin and Xi Jinping, is just a routine summit with no significant implications for the Middle East situation. Li Keqiang is merely a representative sent by China.
The strategic location of Pakistan at the crossroads of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia is significant. Pakistan established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1947, and during the Cold War, Pakistan-US relations were close. However, Pakistan faced sanctions from the US due to nuclear tests and coups. Following the 9/11 attacks, the US government accused Pakistan of participating in the international anti-terrorism war while clandestinely sheltering several terrorist organizations. Despite this, Pakistan has been a major non-NATO ally of the US since 2002.
In recent years, with the sharp deterioration of US-China relations and the strengthening of the US-India strategic partnership, relations between Pakistan and the US have gradually cooled.
Yesterday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Li Keqiang at an air force base on the outskirts of Islamabad, where they discussed bilateral trade and the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
During a live ceremony, Li Keqiang stated, “Our friendship is unique, unbreakable, and has withstood the test of international changes.” Sharif assured, “I guarantee that I will closely cooperate with you… for the promotion of peace and security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan.”
The unveiling ceremony of the international airport built by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Gwadar Port was also conducted via video by Li Keqiang and Sharif. The airport is located in Gwadar city and is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Gwadar possesses a deep-water port controlled by China.
The virtual unveiling ceremony between the two sides is believed to have been held for security reasons.
This SCO summit is the first major regional meeting hosted by Pakistan in many years. In the lead-up to the meeting, there have been several terrorist attacks, including a car bomb attack near Karachi International Airport a week ago that resulted in the deaths of two Chinese engineers. Islamabad has been under almost full lockdown for three days to ensure the meeting’s security.
China’s investments in Pakistan are facing increasing security threats and other challenges.
Over the past four years, there have been a series of attacks targeting Chinese citizens in Pakistan. According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, there were multiple deadly attacks in August in Balochistan province that resulted in more than fifty deaths, aiming to sabotage development projects funded by China.
In another attack in March this year in northwest Pakistan, five Chinese workers were involved in a similar incident.
Amid the ongoing political unrest in Pakistan, the recent deadly attacks on Chinese nationals raise concerns about the two countries’ “strategic partnership.” Last week, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated they had sent a senior delegation to Islamabad following the attacks.
Chen Shimin noted that official relations between Pakistan and China are still good due to China’s military and economic assistance, including loans, mainly for the Belt and Road projects. However, anti-China sentiments among the Pakistani people are rising as they feel they have not benefited economically from these projects, which have not helped address local unemployment issues or improve social welfare. Instead, they believe these projects have increased Pakistan’s government debt, leading to public perceptions of corruption within the Pakistani government.
Yao Yuan, a professor of international studies at the University of St. Thomas in the United States, pointed out that citizens of countries that have accepted the Belt and Road policy harbor some level of resentment towards the Chinese. Investments and infrastructure brought by China’s Belt and Road Initiative have not brought actual job opportunities to the locals, with the locals viewing it as exploitation of their resources.