Parallels between Pro-China govt's supporting Belt and Road BRI ousted in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Philippines

[SQ8]

This comment was to make a point that Shahbaz had a good working business relationship with the Chinese. CPEC is China's capstone for BRI. CPEC and BRI are seen by America as not in its interest. By hitting the breaks on CPEC, Imran was arguably playing to American interest?

The idea that some CPEC projects were debt trap is tangential to this discussion. It may or may not be true. But let's save that for another thread. Because I don't want to say that Imran was bad for Pakistan's sovereign interests here. Just that Shahbaz is just as good or even better for China's expectations from Pakistan

It’s a bit more nuanced -
For e.g. yes its great as a business relationship when useless infrastructure projects are pushed through the CPEC train which really have no positive impact. That can be interpreted as a good business relationship but it’s not impactful in terms of the overall objectives of BRI(provide trade connectivity for China). There were initial annoyances from the Chinese because such white elephant projects came under review but it isn’t a case of “American Interests” with those.
US interests are being served now with Chinese links under review along with them wanting to refuse some key weapon systems and technologies - can China trust Pakistan with any military satellite imagery or even Beidou when the perception is that the top Pakistani state echelon is compromised by the US?

 

[Wood]

It’s a bit more nuanced -
For e.g. yes its great as a business relationship when useless infrastructure projects are pushed through the CPEC train which really have no positive impact. That can be interpreted as a good business relationship but it’s not impactful in terms of the overall objectives of BRI(provide trade connectivity for China). There were initial annoyances from the Chinese because such white elephant projects came under review but it isn’t a case of “American Interests” with those.
US interests are being served now with Chinese links under review along with them wanting to refuse some key weapon systems and technologies - can China trust Pakistan with any military satellite imagery or even Beidou when the perception is that the top Pakistani state echelon is compromised by the US?

You believe that Pakistan is completely compromised. But have the Chinese said so? Their perception is more important. They will have sources that are more reliable than Imran's Jalsa speeches. If Pakistan is compromised in China's view, then we would have seen a global times article that hints so. Instead, we've seen them praise Shahbaz.

The projects that are white elephants in your view may have been economically viable in Chinese view. Pakistan cannot unilaterally pull the plug and expect China to not look for a more reliable working partner.

PS: I resist the temptation to ask what these projects are because I don't want this to be a discussion about CPEC's economic sustainability.

 

[Menthol]

Today is a great opportunity to grow.

China is offering cheap loans to build infrastructure.

As Chinese worker is getting expensive, the West is looking for some countries to replace Chinese worker.

But yet, many fail to see and grab the opportunity.