Abstract:

CPEC as it is said being a game changer, geo-politically and geo-strategically is very significant. CPEC is the revival of centuries old Silk Route which is a part of “one belt and one road” initiative of China. The objective of the article is to find out the importance of CPEC to China. Descriptive and analytical method will be used for the interpretation of secondary data. Gwadar port as a part of CPEC provides China an outlet to Indian Ocean, which is Geo-strategically very important as Alfred Thayer Mahan said “those who control Indian Ocean will dominate Asia.” The importance of Gwadar is four pronged, first Chinese presence in Gwadar will secure its sea lanes of communication in Indian Ocean, second it is close to oil rich Middle East, Persian gulf and strait of Hurmoz, third it will increase Chinese influence in these areas and fourth it will play an important role in security of China as rising power of the region. CPEC at the cross road of Central, West and South Asia, will be helpful in the integration of these areas. It is also an opportunity for access of the resource rich Central Asia. Through the accomplishment of CPEC, China can also counter the US dominance in the region. India and US want to contain China as rising power and trying to encircle it, so CPEC and Gwadar port are very important in Chinese counter-encirclement policy. Geo-politically CPEC will also have far reaching impact, as rival of US, Russia has no choice but to support CPEC. Geo-political line up in future seems like Russia-China-Pakistan vs India-US in the region. The geopolitical implications of CPEC are far more extensive and will potentially affect the course of global politics in the coming years.

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