Pakistan government has been under tremendous pressure against the backdrop of its security forces’ failure to contain attacks on China-funded project and its nationals. This has soured the diplomatic relations as Beijing has expressed strong displeasure over the frequent attacks, which is unprecedented. Islamabad may be compelled to have Chinese security forces deployed on Pakistani soil for protection of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Chinese staff.
Taking a strong exception to the frequent attacks, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong called the attacks “unacceptable” and demanded Islamabad government to take action. “It is very unacceptable for us to be attacked twice in only six months and these attacks have also caused causalities. Security is the biggest concern for China and a constraint to CPEC in Pakistan,” he said. “Without a safe and sound environment, nothing can be achieved.”
Dr Ghulam Ali, the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Research Centre for Asian Studies, said the public expression of frustration and direct reprimand of Pakistani officials by Zaidong reflected China’s increasing impatience with Pakistan’s handling of security for Chinese nationals. “By emphasizing the gravity of the situation and warning against future incidents, the ambassador signalled that China would no longer shy away from bluntly addressing its concerns. This shift in tone underscores the growing tension in the bilateral relationship. The security situation in Pakistan will be pivotal in determining China’s future investment decisions,” Ali said.[1]
Over 20 Chinese workers in Pakistan were killed in different attacks sine 2021. The China-funded projects have been the major target for dissidents in regions such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Wang Shengjie, China’s political secretary to Pakistan, expressed “serious concerns” over the future of China’s multibillion-dollar investment in the Pakistan. “If the security is not improved, who would come and work in this environment? There is hatred against the Chinese in Gwadar and Balochistan,” he said.
The issue of security of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects is always popped up in the top leaders’ meets, Zaidong added. And the recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari was no exception. The joint statement mentioned the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan was the “foremost responsibility” of Pakistani government. Interestingly, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made similar promises when he visited China in June 2024.
Beijing publicly criticising was unprecedented and it showed that China losing its patience, said Hasnain Javed, a Beijing-based Pakistani foreign research associate. “This is a strong rebuttal and a serious dissatisfaction over the poor security around CPEC. Now, when the military is the main guarantor, particularly for security, the Chinese seem to be running on low patience,” he said. Reports suggest China is planning to deploy its forces in Pakistan.
China wants Pakistan to take proactive role in safeguarding Chinese investments and human resources. “It is expected that the Pakistani side will improve its business environment and provide a favourable policy framework for Chinese investment,” said Chinese Consul General Yang Yundong in Karachi. In March 2025, Pakistan’s Ambassador in China Khalil Hashmi had to accept that security measures were taken to protect Chinese nationals. “We keep our Chinese friends informed of the steps that we are taking, so it’s a work in progress,” he said.
Michael Kugelman, an expert on South Asia affairs, said the statements by the Chinese leaders and officials marked the wariness about the returns on the CPEC amid financial difficulties and political instability in Pakistan. “When the Chinese envoy publicly upbraids Pakistan for not providing proper security, you know there is a big problem,” he said. The security concerns would depress new Chinese investment even as the existing CPEC project now would struggle to regain momentum, Kugelman added.
For the long-term success of the CPEC, Pakistan needs to address the Chinese security concerns, said Ejaz Hussain, Associate Professor at the Lahore School of Economics. “The security of Chinese nationals is the topmost priority of the Chinese government, which Pakistan has to provide if it wants to see CPEC 2.0 move forward,” he said. “Economic cooperation can only be strengthened if the two sides are free from security concerns.”
The diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan have reached to its lowest level over the Chinese projects and nationals becoming the target in Pakistan, said Islamabad-based researcher and commentator Adnan Aamir. “There is a limit to which China will tolerate losing its nationals in Pakistan, and it’s clear that a threshold is being reached. If Pakistan doesn’t improve the security situation it seems likely Beijing will move to disengage with Islamabad, which would carry significant consequences for CPEC,” he said.
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