Mackinder's Heartland vs. Rimeland and the nature of contemporary Sino-Pakistani relations.

Byline: Syeda Dhanak Fatima Hashmi

China has played a crucial role in maintaining regional peace and security by upholding its concept of an inclusive, cooperative and sustainable security. This has clarified the country's stance on issues of regional concern, contributing to long-term stability and development in Asia, which includes the promotion of common development, building of partnerships, improvement of existing multilateral frameworks, rule-setting, military exchanges and proper settlement of differences.

To ensure long-term stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific, China has put forward a number of proposals that have been highly valued by the international community. To ensure common development is the fundamental guarantee of peace and stability, and the 'master key' to solving security problems.

The Chinaproposed Belt and Road Initiative is not only a path of development but also a path of peace, as it will not only bring opportunities to the economic development of regional countries, but also provide ideas and solutions for them to solve security problems.

The central theme behind the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is to open new economic and trade avenues that would lead to the overall social and economic prosperity of the region. The fruit of this economic cooperation is a market far larger in scope than the one that exists because of economic conflict in the region.

The envisaged economic route from Gwadar to Kashgar can serve as an alternative and economically shorter sea route instead of the far longer straits of Malacca. This has always been the most compelling reason for multilateral and regional cooperation.

Two of the most reputable theories that support the idea of regional stability, regional integration and strategic cooperation can be stated in terms of 'economic opportunity cost hypotheses and 'neofunctionalism'.

The first theory assumes that trade and economic interdependence increases stakes amongst economically integrated nations and thereby reduces chances of conflicts erupting. Whereas the proponents of neofunctionalism are of the view that cooperation in one area produces cooperation in other areas.

CPEC will pass through Gilgit-Baltistan in the north which will connect Kashgar in China's western province of Xinjiang. Almost 80% of China's oil is currently transported through the Strait of Malacca to Shanghai.

The calculated distance is almost 16,000km and takes two to three months, with...