Quote Originally Posted by Dayuhan View Post
Exactly, that is why Pakistan is not "central" to Chinese strategic interests. Not irrelevant, but not central either. I think the Chinese can see the inherent instability and unreliability of Pakistan clearly enough that they will not allow themselves to become strategically dependent on Pakistan in any way.
Apart from Chinese strategic interest, to include contain India through the 'string or pearls; including a port in Ceylon, the Chinese ongoing interest and assistance is important to keep Pakistan in line with Chinese interest; more so, when the US is losing its preoccupation with Pakistan after quitting Afghanistan.

By keeping Pakistan afloat (its economy is in the pits), China will have a hold over Pakistan over the Uighurs making a serious damage to China's sovereignty, since a large majority of the Uighur Hajjis vanish into Pakistan to create havoc in Xinjiang.



Very true. Some people focus exclusively on commodity imports as a strategic issue, while overlooking China's equally imperative need to maintain transit of its merchandise exports... which are entirely reliant on container shipping, and given geography are likely to remain so. Again, it's a question of scale, and some find it difficult to envision the number of trucks or railway cars it would take to move the cargo of a single container ship. The world's goods move by ship for good reasons.
Would the number of trucks and railway cars be an impediment to a country flush with funds and on the go?