Challenges to CPEC: Will it sustain itself?

Abstract

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The project was signed in April 2015 between Pakistan and China. Though China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is beneficial for both countries and it was ideal that this project will overcome Pakistan’s economic issues, but the project has certain challenges which posed serious threats to the sustainability of this project. This study identifies two sets of challenges, internal and external, that the economic corridor faces. Broadly, the challenges range from Sino-US rivalry, Indo-US strategic partnership, the Indian factor, instability in Afghanistan and the most important challenge and threat is terrorism. This research attempts to measure and explain the sustainability of China- Pakistan Economic Corridor by employing Regional Security Complex Theory and theory of Complex Interdependence. Methodologically, the qualitative and quantitative approach has been applied. For the primary data, interviews and surveys have been conducted and for secondary data, sources such as books, journals and news articles have been used. According to results majority respondents viewed that terrorism, Indo-US alliance and instability in Afghanistan is negatively affecting the progress of CPEC but Pakistan has the potential to mitigate all kind of security threats. CPEC has enormous potential to increase regional connectivity. This research will be helpful to understand and respond to the Indian and US propaganda against the CPEC.