Security will likely feature prominently during Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to China. Dar will be in China until Wednesday, his first foreign trip since Pakistan’s recent conflict with India.
He will meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, and take part in a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting with Afghanistan. Chinese experts predict that deepening security and defense cooperation will likely be on both Pakistan and China’s agendas in the wake of the India-Pakistan flareup.
The New Delhi-based Centre for Joint Warfare Studies alleged recently that China helped Pakistan reorient its air defense systems and satellite coverage to detect Indian attacks. If true, it would indicate a deeper Chinese involvement in the conflict than earlier thought.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, and emphasized Beijing’s friendly relations with both countries: “We support and welcome the realization of ceasefire between India and Pakistan and stand ready to continue to play a constructive role for securing a full and lasting ceasefire and upholding regional peace and stability.” She said talks with Dar would focus on “issues of common interest.”
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The tensions between China, India, and Pakistan come as India is also negotiating choppy trade waters, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of Apple’s decision to manufacture in India for the U.S. market.
