Strategic Trust in the Skies: Sino-Pakistan Collaboration and Aerial Security in South Asia (1951–1999)
Keywords:
China-Pakistan Relations, Asymmetric Alliance, F-6, A-5, JF-17, Cold War, Military Cooperation, Strategic Trust, Defence DiplomacyAbstract
This study critically examines the evolution of China-Pakistan defense and diplomatic relations from 1951 to 1999, focusing on military technology transfer and strategic alignment. By limiting the scope to 1999, we contextualize the partnership within the Cold War’s structural constraints, avoiding the confounding variables of post-9/11 geopolitics. Utilizing scholarly insight, archival sources, and regional perspectives, it analyses how bilateral cooperation—initially driven by shared ideology and regional insecurity—matured into a strategic pact grounded in mutual trust and technological interdependence. Countering critiques that characterized Chinese military exports as outdated or opportunistic, this study argues that platforms like the F-6 (J-6), A-5 (Q-5), and later the jointly developed JF-17 effectively addressed Pakistan’s critical strategic needs, especially during periods of Western disengagement. The research integrates archival counter-narratives and scholarly discourse for a balanced and historically contextualized analysis. While acknowledging the domestic financial burdens and technical dependencies this alliance created for Pakistan, the study contends that Chinese military technology served as a vital diplomatic conduit—cementing a long-term strategic partnership and reshaping regional power dynamics. The findings underscore the enduring relevance of this historical partnership as both nations navigate contemporary geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia.
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