While Pakistan and China maintain strong economic and diplomatic ties, it’s their bilateral military relationship that has grown most significantly in recent years. This threshold alliance still falls short of a formal treaty — something China has eschewed — but serves many of the same functions, and the prospect of Chinese naval bases on Pakistan’s shores has major implications for regional security. USIP’s Sameer Lalwani discusses his latest report on China-Pakistan military ties, how China could leverage this relationship in future great power competition and what U.S. leaders can do to seek strategic clarity with Pakistan while helping it to maintain independence in its foreign policy.
