Recent events involving Pakistan, America, and China paint a current picture of this foreign relations trinity.
On May 16, 2011, two U.S. drones fired a total of four missiles at "a terrorist compound" and an escaping vehicle, according to the Pakistan News Wire. These actions resulted in the death of six suspected terrorists and at least six others, the identities of which are unknown. This drone attack occurred two days after Al Jazeera reported that Pakistani lawmakers passed a "strongly worded resolution" that "demanded an end to U.S. drone strikes on its territory".
The Pakistan News Wire stated that later that day, the United States "formally apologized [to] Pakistan" for these attacks. However, it is unclear precisely for what the Americans were apologizing. Was it the fact that they acted directly in opposition to the demands of the Pakistani government? Or, was it because they had potentially killed several innocent people? Perhaps they were apologizing for both.
In pursuit of continued and increased cooperation between Pakistan and the United States, U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry has been raising his voice about America's relationship with Pakistan. Time reporter Jay Newton-Small described his main message was a financial one. If Pakistan didn't want to risk $3 billion in military aid every year, then they should more or less accept the pursuit of American interests in their nation. From what analysts can tell, he's angling for the Secretary of State gig after Clinton's announced departure following the elections of 2012.
While the U.S. is trying to rehabilitate its position in Pakistan, China is also pursuing increased links with Pakistan. On May 17, Voice of America trumpeted the news that "Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Gilani kicked off a four-day visit" to Beijing, a country he described as Pakistan's "best and most trusted friend." In the past, China acted as a "sort of lifeline" for Pakistan. But, the Prime Minister also stated that "there is no way ... China will supplant the United States". In other words, "despite the trust deficit" between the Pakistani and American states, their current relationship is more than likely to continue. He even put the Pakistan-U.S. relationship in marital terms, calling it "a marriage of convenience".
In the meantime, General Chen Bingde "of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is on a weeklong official visit to the United States. Yang Yi of the People's Daily Online explained that the purpose of the visit was in part to discuss the "security, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region". However, regardless of the positive appearance of the relations between these countries, there is an underlying tension in Sino-American military relations. The problem is that "the Chinese and U.S. militaries still lack strategic mutual trust." So, without agreement on a strategic level, these two countries are bound to encounter long term issues of trust.
So, as persistent tensions in Chinese-American relations will continue to pervade the region, Pakistan will pursue amicable relations with both.
Mark Guzylak-Shergold - Mark Guzylak-Shergold writes to clarify his thoughts and with any luck the thoughts of others.
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