China’s Mercenaries in Pakistan: Economic Promises vs. Sovereignty Costs

China’s growing involvement in Pakistan’s security, especially with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), represents a significant strategic shift that deserves a closer look. This shift occurs as Islamabad grapples with internal unrest, particularly in Balochistan, while Beijing focuses on safeguarding its economic interests. As regional stability and sovereignty issues become increasingly crucial, understanding this evolving dynamic is essential for academics and policymakers. CPEC, launched as a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is valued at roughly $62 billion (Caskey, 2024).

China’s Big Tech Dream: The Digital Silk Road

Digital Silk Road (DSR) is a crucial component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), symbolising China’s strategy to expand information exchanges and digital cooperation with emerging markets and developing economies. Launched in 2015 as part of President Xi Jinping’s flagship transnational infrastructural project, the DSR has become a significant part of Beijing’s overall BRI strategy, providing aid, political support and assistance to recipient states. The DSR aims to enhance digital connectivity in developing economies, challenging the West’s tech dominance in the developing world.

BRICS is the Cure for Bitterness between India and China

BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is one of the major platforms of the five emerging economies, aiming at promoting peace, security, inclusive development and cooperation. The platform represents 43% of the world’s total population and 30% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since its establishment against the backdrop of the 2008 global financial crisis, as a potential alternative to G7 platform. The BRICS has grown substantially as an effective platform to articulate views of countries in the Global South as at least one country is present from every different continent across the region. Economy, being in focus point of the grouping, the initial decade of BRICS has advanced coordinated policy initiatives in the field of global economic governance.