China Confronts Pakistan Over US Ties, Demands Answers Before Dialogue

• China demands full transparency from Pakistan regarding its increasing political, military, and economic ties with the US ahead of the Jan 4 Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.
• Beijing suspects a rekindling of strategic proximity between Washington and Islamabad, specifically questioning Field Marshal Asim Munir's US meetings and potential security cooperation.
• China seeks a 'one-window system' for its trade and investment in Pakistan, aiming to resolve project delays, bureaucratic hurdles, and payment issues.
• A critical demand is enhanced security for Chinese citizens and projects in Pakistan, following 19 deaths and 8 major attacks in the last five years.
• China also wants assurances on Pakistan's debt repayment capacity and the progress of CPEC 2.0, with discussions on CPEC's extension to Afghanistan.

Why It Matters: China is firmly challenging Pakistan's growing US alignment, demanding clarity and addressing critical economic and security concerns.