WHY IS CHINA SILENT ON US DRONE STRIKES IN PAKISTAN?
Nawaz Sharif has always been a vocal critic of the American drone programme in the restive tribal areas of Pakistan since he rightly holds that, “Drones indeed are challenging our sovereignty.” Therefore, it was expected that during his maiden visit to China after becoming Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif would certainly seek Beijing’s support on this issue, as the same was “challenging” Pakistan’s sovereignty. And when the joint statement issued on termination of the visit emphasised that, “China vowed to continue extending its full support to Pakistan in the latter’s efforts to uphold its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it was but natural for the media to ask questions on Beijing’s views regarding Americans carrying out drone attacks on Pakistani soil.
While there is no official confirmation on whether this issue was discussed during Nawaz Sharif’s China visit, his reply that, “We have to help ourselves if we want to stop American drones” seems to suggest that it was and Beijing’s “full support” to uphold Pakistan’s sovereignty is conditional and does not extend to the issue of US drone strikes. This apprehension was subsequently confirmed when a spokesperson, during the routine Foreign Office briefing of the media, stated, “As for China’s stance on drone strikes, the Chinese government will be in the best position to answer. However, I can say that the Chinese government has always voiced its support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.” Though the Foreign Office has put up a brave front and deftly couched Beijing’s silence on this issue with diplomatic ambiguity, the failure of China to stand by Pakistan must have certainly upset many in Islamabad and more so Nawaz Sharif, who considers China- Pakistan relationship to be “sweeter than honey.”
At a time when America is making all-out efforts to ‘contain’ China by strengthening military ties with virtually every nation in China’s neighbourhood through its plan of establishing a ‘pivot on Asia’, Beijing’s silence on American drone attacks which, have drawn widespread international criticism, is indeed intriguing. The stoic silence of Beijing on the US drone programme on the soil of its closest ally Pakistan, which is no doubt a flagrant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, is most certainly not guided by a need to maintain harmonious relations with Washington. China has no love lost for America and it has no qualms in using every conceivable opportunity in voicing its criticism of Washington’s policies. The fact of the matter is that Beijing has intentionally opted to refrain from criticising the US drone programme, simply because it benefits from it!
Firstly, American drones attacks in Pakistan have killed a number of Muslim Uyghur terrorists, including the leader of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Party, Abdul Haq al-Turkistani and thus American drone attacks suit Beijing. Secondly, and more importantly, since it has developed its own drones, by opposing the American drone programme in Pakistan, Beijing runs the risk of foreclosing its own future options of using drones against the Uyghur militants in its Xinjiang region or even in Tibet. Lastly, unlike other drone producing countries, which have stringent laws governing the sale of drones, Beijing has no such reservations. And once America, which is on the verge of getting the international community to ‘legitimise’ use of drones in ‘war against terror’ succeeds in this endeavour, Beijing will find a ready market with anxious buyers from nations afflicted with militancy or even anti- establishment forces, lining- up for its indigenously manufactured and low priced drones!
Nawaz Sharif will therefore have to handle the contentious issue of drone strikes on his own and may take cheer in the recent statement of the US Secretary of State John Kerry’s that drone attacks in Pakistan could end “very soon.” Until then, he has to carefully tread a precipitous path by not unduly annoying the Americans by repeatedly condemning its drone attacks, as well as assuaging public outrage whenever drone strikes occur. On their part, the people of Pakistan need to be patient and give Nawaz Sharif time, not out of pity but because he deserves it- for he is the first Prime Minister who has atleast been able to extract a commitment (even though it may be vague) on termination of the US drone programme from the reticent Americans!