China moves to marginalize U.S. influence in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD - China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on a high-profile trip on Monday, armed with billions of dollars in promised investments that analysts said was meant to overshadow U.S. influence in the nuclear-armed south Asian country.
Ahead of president Xi's arrival Pakistani and Chinese officials said, his trip was mainly about formalizing a staggering $46 billion planned in Chinese investments in energy-related projects and new highways. This is in addition to ongoing cooperation in military affairs that has seen Pakistan emerge as China's largest buyer of hardware.
The amount of expected Chinese investments is significantly in excess of past U.S. assistance to Pakistan after the two countries became close allies in fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"This trip is a game-changer for Pakistan," said a foreign ministry official in Islamabad who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
Hasan Askari Rizvi, a Pakistani commentator on security, politics and foreign affairs said the investments are a symbol of China's interest.
"China sees Pakistan as an important ally," Rizvi said.
However, some senior Western diplomats told CBS News that China's planned investments need to be seen within the context of Beijing moving to counter the U.S. efforts to deepen alliances around the Asia-Pacific region.
Pakistan and China have remained close allies for almost five decades, and unlike the ups and downs surrounding relations between Pakistan and the U.S., the Sino-Pak relationship has progressed without interruption.
Recently however, China has moved rapidly to step up its economic influence in countries where it has an interest. The creation of the China led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which Western officials say is meant to eventually overshadow the influence of the Washington-based World Bank, appears to be a sign of Beijing's growing determination in this area.
"China is a very cash-rich country, while the U.S. has its financial limitations. Now it appears that China wants to use its money to expand its influence in other countries," said an Islamabad-based Asian ambassador who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
Ahead of President Xi's arrival in Islamabad, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) deployed eight of its JF-17 "Thunder" fighter planes jointly produced by Pakistan and China, to escort the Chinese president's plane through Pakistan's air space. The PAF is also equipped by U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter planes.
A Pakistani foreign ministry official said: "The U.S. at times has cut off [military hardware] supplies to Pakistan while the Chinese have always been our loyal friends."
He was referring to a still widely remembered episode in 1990 when the U.S. suspended deliveries of F-16s to Pakistan on the grounds that the country was working to produce nuclear weapons. Sales of F-16s to Pakistan were resumed after the New York terrorist attacks of 2001 led to the resumption of a high-profile military relationship between the two countries.