Pakistan discovers a big "treasure", chooses the US instead of China for cooperation, is it really not "solid" anymore?

A huge oil and gas field has emerged in Pakistan's sea, which is truly a big "treasure" that can change the country's fate. However, Pakistan currently has limited economic and technological capabilities, and it is impossible to develop it on its own. The question then arises: who should be the partner? Many people didn't expect that Pakistan chose the United States this time, rather than China, which has always been called its "all-weather strategic partner". Once this decision was made, people began to talk about it: does this mean that the friendship between China and Pakistan is no longer as "solid" as before?

Why did Pakistan choose the United States?

Looking back at past situations, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan used to be very good. During the Cold War, the United States supported Pakistan to counter the alliance formed by the Soviet Union and India. However, later, due to issues related to counter-terrorism, Pakistan's nuclear program, and the improvement of U.S.-India relations, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan gradually cooled down. But in recent years, especially after Trump took office, the U.S.-Pakistan relationship has significantly improved. In June 2025, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, Kamal Javed Bajwa, visited the White House and received high-level reception, with frequent interactions between the two sides. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan also reached an agreement with the United States to reduce textile tariffs, in exchange for the U.S. investment rights in energy and mineral fields, which laid the groundwork for the oil and gas field cooperation.

On July 30th, Trump posted on social media: "We have just agreed with Pakistan to jointly develop its rich oil resources." People think that this cooperation is a natural outcome after the improvement of bilateral relations. In fact, Pakistan made this decision after considering many aspects:

Internal pro-American forces push: There are some pro-American factions in Pakistan who advocate "diversifying bets", believing that they cannot rely too much on one country, and this idea pushes the government to move closer to the United States.

Energy and economic pressure: In 2023, energy imports accounted for 30% of total imports in Pakistan, and foreign exchange reserves were only enough to buy four weeks of crude oil. The U.S. crude oil supply can meet the needs of Pakistan's refineries and reduce reliance on Middle Eastern oil, which is very attractive for alleviating the energy crisis.

Technological and capital advantages: This oil and gas field mainly consists of shale oil, which is difficult to extract and expensive. The United States has advantages in oil extraction technology, capital scale, and experience, which Pakistan finds hard to replace.

Strategic security considerations: Improving relations with the United States can enhance its strategic security and provide more leverage in the competition with India. Trump was nominated as a candidate for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize by Pakistan, partly because he played a role in mediating the India-Pakistan relationship, further solidifying the political foundation of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation.

Is the friendship between China and Pakistan really not "solid" anymore?

Although Pakistan has decided to cooperate with the United States to develop the oil and gas field, this does not mean that the friendship between China and Pakistan has become weaker or broken. You see, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important project under the "Belt and Road" initiative, and it has brought tangible benefits to Pakistan, with visible earnings and economic benefits. Additionally, China, through the Gwadar Port, has established a direct energy transportation route from the Middle East to western China. This way, there is no need to take the long route through the Malacca Strait. On one hand, this makes China's own energy supply more secure and reliable; on the other hand, it helps Pakistan with infrastructure development, enabling their economy to grow as well.

Pakistan is a sovereign country and has the right to choose partners based on its own interests. China has always respected each country's decision-making, so we don't need to worry too much about the U.S.-Pakistan energy cooperation. The U.S.-Pakistan energy cooperation is mainly for profit, driven by economic considerations, which has no direct relation to the friendship between China and Pakistan.

In reality, the foundation of Sino-Pakistani relations has never wavered. The two countries have deep roots in political trust, military cooperation, and livelihood assistance, having weathered various tests. Some online media interpret Pakistan's choice of cooperating with the United States as "abandoning China," which is a typical chauvinistic mindset, ignoring the diversity and autonomy of national diplomacy.

Now, China is in a critical stage of development, and it is even more necessary to adopt an open and inclusive attitude towards Pakistan's diplomatic activities with other countries. The friendship between China and Pakistan is indeed very "solid"! This "solid" does not mean that Pakistan must only be friendly with China and cannot interact with other countries. True "solid" means that after experiencing various difficulties and challenges, the two countries can understand and help each other. Having such a mature and broad-minded way of interaction is the key to maintaining and developing the Sino-Pakistani relationship for a long time.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7536102111218565682/

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