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The 21st century is marked by power shifting from the west to the east. This century started a new debate in the world about the peaceful rise of China as an economic power. Many scholarly articles discuss China as a new superpower. Due to the peaceful rise of China, the major powers like USA and Russia are looking for new areas of cooperation with China. This cooperation proved the statement that “there are not permanent friends or foes in international relations, only interests are permanent” and these national interests help the states to make their foreign policy. This is true in the relationship among states as well in the case of China & Pakistan. Despite, strong defense and diplomatic relations, there are some areas of divergence in Pak-China relations which are seen with the help of primary and secondary sources. This aspect needs to addressed by the leadership of both states.

The importance of Central Asia for China increased with the change in international power structure, growth of its economy, rapid industrialization and increase in population. China is regarded as the second largest energy consumer in the world while Central Asia has rich energy resources and raw materials complementary for its economic growth. It is interested in the energy resources of Central Asia for the security of its energy supply and a large market for its finished goods. Prior to Central Asian energy resources, China was importing oil from the Middle East. The route of oil supply from M.E to China was passing through Malacca strait, under the control of United States, a perceived rival of China in the world politics. In case of conflict this route may be blocked by United States. This situation worried the Chinese policy makers and prepared a comprehensive policy regarding the energy resources of Central Asian region. Energy is not the only concern of China in Central Asia; it is also worried about the security of its Xinjiang, sharing border with some Central Asian Republics (CARs). About 60% of the population of Xinjiang are Uyghur Muslims. The same ethnic community also exists on the other side of the border in the Central Asian Republics. China has an apprehension that in case of instability in the region, terrorists organizations may instigate the China’s Uyghur for independence. That is why, China is supporting United States in its fight against terrorism. Politically, it wants to reduce the influence of United States in the region by integration with the CARs (Central Asian Republics) through SCO particularly after US military penetration in the region in 2001. Applying a descriptive-analytical approach in the paper, the interests of China in CARs are surveyed.

Aim of the paper is to discuss the Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement and to analyze the factors responsible. In 1960, Pakistan put forward its offer to China for border demarcation. The Chinese Government did not respond to the Pakistani offer. China was working hard to persuade India for the border settlement. But when the hopes for the Sino-Indian rapprochement failed, China asserted for negotiations with Pakistan. China was also motivated by the concept that the Western powers might manipulate the situation between the two countries and could assert pressure on Pakistan’s decision making process which would bring hostilities between the two countries. If China would more delay its border negotiations with Pakistan, the US wishes might come true and a permanent stalemate in relations could persist in future. As long as Pakistan was dependent on the US for its military and economic needs, it seemed difficult to get closer with China and negotiate for a border demarcation. Despite the opposition of India and the US, both Pakistan and China demarcated their border and signed a boundary agreement.

The paper seeks to analyze the developments between China and Pakistan since the end of Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 to 1971. After the signing of Pakistan¡¯s boundary, air and trade agreements with China, the latter continued its support to Pakistan. Their bilateral relations reached to the climax of cordiality by the exchange official visits of both leaderships and support to each other¡¯s key issues and interests. Pakistan changed its pro-West policy of casting vote in favor of Taiwan and against of China for membership in United Nations. Chinese assistance for Pakistan¡¯s defense sector began and supported the Pakistan¡¯s view regarding the disputed area of Kashmir. However it was Pakistan¡¯s start of good relations with the Soviet Union which created a doubt in China¡¯s mind after the Tashkent Conference. It was natural for China to express her surprise on the new bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Soviet Union and called it superpowers¡¯ conspiracy. The paper concludes that bilateralism in Pakistan¡¯s foreign policy brought China and the US to normalization of relations where Pakistan played a bridge role between the two.

The paper covers Sino-Pakistan bilateral relations from the establishment of their diplomatic relations to the end of year 1960. The paper doesn¡¯t describe the cultural and economic aspects of their bilateral relations in detail. Although there were some suspicions and differences between China and Pakistan, but as a whole, the period witnessed for normal relations, if not cordial one. The era saw search for making friends in international community by the two states. Both the countries took start as independent and sovereign states in the circumstances, when the world was divided into two rival blocs. The need for making friends, in the presence of the heydays of Cold War, was the result of their respective historical legacies and thereafter, the international system. The Communist China emerged after a long civil war with the Nationalists, and Pakistan got independence from the British colonialism. The paper concludes that, for Pakistan, the continuing threat and hostilities from India; and for China, the Taiwan issue side by side with the United States¡¯ policies, added a new thinking in the minds of the two states¡¯ leaders.

A triangular alliance was made among Pakistan, China and the United States to oppose the Soviet’s presence in Afghanistan. Common interest brought together these states to form a united front in 1980s and to help the anti-Soviet resistance forces in Afghanistan. The paper discusses and discovers the reasons of triangular joint front, their concerns and objectives. Pakistan was concerned about its western border with Afghanistan which was directly threatened. The eastern border was also not safe, as India had backing of the Moscow. Indian Ocean was another area under threat for which Kremlin had long been aspired to have access there. China was mainly concerned with its Muslim dominated Xinjiang region, having a common border with Wakhan area of Afghanistan. A direct threat was existing and could ignite the turbulent society of Xinjiang. Encirclement was an additional concern for China in the wake of Red Army’s climbing over Kabul. The US was fighting its ideological Cold War and used the Mujahideen against the Soviets. The paper analyzes that how the three states (Pakistan, China, US) strengthened their efforts against the Soviet and trained the Mujahideen. A descriptive-analytical and qualitative method is used for research. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2192