The China Pakistan Economic Corridor and Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Implications for South Asia’s Strategic Stability

Abstract

OBOR offshoot initiative, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is one of the six vital corridors envisioned to realise China’s promise to shun protectionism, and promote global, regional and national economic growth. This paper assesses the existing architecture of strategic competition in South Asia. In relation to this, it studies in particular the potential of CPEC and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) after admission of India and Pakistan as full members of the latter to shape and strengthen existing strategic stability in South Asia between these nuclear armed neighbours. Similarly, China’s role is discussed in the event of any potential crisis (such as the Jammu and Kashmir dispute) between India and Pakistan to avert crisis escalation between them.