Honors College Theses
Publication Date
5-17-2025
Major
International Studies (B.A.)
Release Option
Archived
Faculty Mentor
Nalanda Roy
Abstract
Initiated in 2013 by President Xi Jinping, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a broad foreign policy strategy designed to foster regional and global development through infrastructure investments. The initiative aims to integrate China’s growing economy with the rest of the world via land and maritime networks. A key element of the BRI is the 3,000 km China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which includes highways, railways, oil and gas pipelines, and a fiber optic network connecting Kashgar in China’s southern Xinjiang to Gwadar in Pakistan’s Balochistan. However, numerous regional and global leaders remain wary of China’s intentions, believing that the initiative advances not just economic goals but also broader efforts to extend Chinese influence over regional security and policymaking. Additionally, concerns persist that the BRI could heighten geopolitical tensions and security challenges across Asia. This paper will explore these perspectives by examining CPEC’s role in shaping the geopolitical landscape among Pakistan, China, and India while also analyzing the relationship between the BRI and insurgency movements in Pakistan. Furthermore, it will assess the BRI’s successes and challenges through this case study, ultimately determining whether it promotes stability or exacerbates instability in the region.
Recommended Citation
Ortiz-Gonzalez, Chris J., "Navigating Tensions: Security and Political Implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor" (2025). Honors College Theses. 1029.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/1029
