China’s projects held in Pakistan within the frame of Belt and Road Initiative create the milestone of the economic and strategic partnership between these two countries. The most important of those projects is known as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and involves infrastructure investments such Gwadar Port, roads, power plants and railway projects. However, since 2021 particularly, variety of events had targeted Chinese citizens working in these projects has led to rising concerns about the security of the country.
Besides China’s operating with local communities within Belt and Road Initiative, it also provides wide-range employment for its citizens in projects continuing in many places of the world. Although this strategy gives an advantage for itself in employment, Chinese workers face adaptation problems because of language barrier and cultural difference in many Belt and Road countries especially with Africa and Middle East ones, being the primary examples.[1] Thus, situation of Chinese workers is multidimensional from security to working conditions and tensions in social relations, in this context. But, it is possible to say that the major problem of workers especially are in Pakistan is security threats in the region, especially for the last few years.
Due to China’s hospitality for CPEC, the biggest project of BRI, thousands of Chinese workers operate in its most important ally in region, Pakistan, at present. But some attacks and terrorist incidents threat the life security of Chinese workers. These threats stem from activites of some armed groups in Pakistan, in particular, the separatist militants in Balochistan.[2]
In recent years bomb attacks have also been carried out on projects including Chinese workers or places that they gather. In 2021, a suicide attack near the Gwadar Port in Balochistan caused the death of 13 Chinese workers. Also in 2022, in Karachi, China’s security concerns were raised by a bomb attack on a car carrying Chinese teachers.[3] An attack happened on 7th October 2024 again, and two Chinese engineers lost their lives.[4] In the light of these cases, it makes sense to think that Pakistani militant groups aim to exercise influence over China and India via attacks targeting Chinese workers and CPEC projects.
Since 2015, essential measures such establishment of a private security force of thousands people to ensure safety of the project and workers in this region, increase in local security personnel in sensitive regions like Gwadar, and security operations, overall implemented by China’s financing and technical support. Targeting Chinese citizens specifically, dozens of injured and dead people after the attacks, reveals the insufficiency of these security measures taken.
It was understood that Chinese diplomats’ frequent calls to Pakistani authorities don’t provide a definite result in terms of diplomatic resolution of the cases occurred in Pakistan. Many high ranking diplomat including Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, condemned the latest attack and told that security measures will be significantly increased. Chinese PM Li highlighted security to be the condition of economic development through his visit to Pakistan after a week of attack, but didn’t make any statement in respect to this subject. Chinese diplomats began to act tougher stances can be seen from the public statements held recently, already.
Pakistan’s efforts to guarantee its economic benefits and reducing militant violence became complicated due to the political unrest which had triggered by removal of PM Imran Khan from the office in 2022. Existence of militant groups acting domestically fuelled the security problem in the country. The reluctance of groups operating in the region, particularly the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in Balochistan, to support projects, and their attacks in response to both China and Pakistan, demonstrate that bilateral relations are undergoing a challenging test.
Besides the economic concerns of Pakistan, it is inevitable for China too, to be anxious regarding the future of its ongoing projects occasionally in Pakistan, including CPEC. The ongoing security issues faced by Chinese workers for years and the inability to prevent terrorist acts may lead China to change its stance towards Pakistan, with which it has friendly relations. However, it is possible to say this situation will not led a serious decision recently, like suspension of importance projects in Pakistan. After all, PM Li who visited Pakistan after the attack that had caused two engineers lost their lives emphasized that the strong strategic cooperation would continue.[5] So, China may increase diplomatic pressure to ensure the security of its citizens currently working in Pakistan and to enhance security levels in project areas, while Pakistan is expected to heed China’s warning and strengthen measures to prevent a disruption in bilateral relations during such period can be assumed.
In conclusion, despite China’s financial, technical, and intelligence support, Pakistan’s insufficient steps to ensure the security of Chinese workers could potentially negatively impact the ongoing Belt and Road projects in Pakistan. The lack of support from militant groups in Pakistan for these projects and the state of internal unrest may have negative impacts on bilateral relations. In response to Pakistan’s concerns about the consequences of these incidents, China supports its diplomatic relations not only by helping to reduce security threats but also through economic incentives. Therefore, Pakistan is willing to enhance security cooperation with China, as it believes the CPEC projects will benefit the national economy and accelerate its infrastructure development goals. In this context, China, by contributing to Pakistan’s economy, encourages the Pakistani government to take more decisive steps in protecting Chinese workers.
[1] Hlongwa, L. (n.d.). Trapped in no man’s land: Chinese migrant workers along the belt and road initiative – conflict, justice, decolonization. Conflict Justice Decolonization. https://cjdproject.web.nycu.edu.tw/2023/01/23/trapped-in-no-mans-land-chinese-migrant-workers-along-the-belt-and-road-initiative/, (Date Accession: 05.11.2024).
[2] Janjua, H. (2024, October 7). Pakistan: What is behind attacks on Chinese nationals? – DW – 10/07/2024. dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-what-is-behind-attacks-on-chinese-nationals/a-70425841, (Date Accession: 05.11.2024).
[3] “Beijing calls for Pakistan to step up security after attacks on Chinese workers”, FT, (2024, October 15). https://www.ft.com/content/80618eb8-2de6-4be1-b660-7b8316482b6b, (Date Accession: 05.11.2024).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Gul, A. (2024a, October 14). China’s premier Li begins Pakistan visit amid rare strains in relations. Voice of America. https://www-voanews-com.translate.goog/a/china-s-premier-li-begins-pakistan-visit-amid-rare-strains-in-relations-/7821554.html?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=zh-CN&_x_tr_hl=zh-CN&_x_tr_pto=sc, (Date Accession: 05.11.2024).
