SINO-US RIVALRY IN INDO PACIFIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR PAKISTAN

Abstract

The concept of Indo-Pacific, a term that has been adopted by the United States in its strategic language underbrush, reflects an attempt to check the ever-expanding attention by China within its locus. The strategy here is to intervene and limit in this case China’s aspirations especially concerning its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative that still remains a major focus in Washington’s policy. In essence, the goal is to limit China’s global strategy of using economic interdependence, especially to Asia. China however continues to take the advocate of regional economic integration in a bid to reach a long-term objective of world dominance all in the name of maintaining the orthodox Asian pacific construct. Pakistan’s struggle to make great power competition in the Indo-Pacific region is both geopolitical and economic and emerges in an increasingly complex context. Pakistan will need to navigate the tumultuous attempt it fuels to safeguard its interests. This paper attempts to contextualize the factors contributing to Pakistan’s negative strategic environment and how these factors influence the range of available strategic options. More specifically, it proposes to answer two crucial questions:

1. What is the shift from ‘Asia Pacific’ to ‘Indo-Pacific’ doing to the strategic balance of the region?

2. Why is this transformation of importance to Pakistan’s strategic Objectives?

KEYWORDS: US-CHINA Rivalry, Indo-Pacific, Security, Implications on Pakistan