Pakistan's Growing Debt to China: A Path to Economic and Military Dependence?

• Pakistan's external debt reached approximately $131 billion by December 2023, with China accounting for about $68.9 billion, making it Pakistan's largest creditor.
• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a multi-billion dollar project vital for Pakistan's infrastructure and China's access to the Arabian Sea, but it deepens Pakistan's reliance.
• Security instability, particularly in Balochistan, has impacted Chinese investments and worker safety, leading China to warn Pakistan and even threaten to reconsider funding.
• China supplies about 81% of Pakistan's arms imports (2020-24), and Pakistan is actively marketing the J-17 Thunder fighter jet to repay Chinese debt.
• China has deployed private security personnel and pressured Pakistan to accept joint security frameworks, potentially paving the way for PLA deployment amidst Balochistan's unrest.

Why It Matters: Pakistan's increasing economic and military reliance on China raises concerns about its sovereignty and future.