An interesting analysis by B.Raman on the China Pakistan dynamics
Here's why China won't take Pakistan's side in tiff with US
The Chinese media have been informing the Chinese people of the tensions in Pakistan's ties with the US without any editorial comment so far. There have been no comments from the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry either till now.
On 27 September, the People's Liberation Army Daily carried a report from the State-owned Xinhua news agency datelined Islamabad stating that Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had gone to Saudi Arabia for talks with his Saudi counterparts.
The Xinhua despatch said that the decision to send Pasha to Saudi Arabia was taken on the recommendation of the Corps Commanders of the Pakistan Army, who met in Islamabad on 25 September, "to brief Saudi leaders on the Pakistan-US tension." However, the Pakistani military spokesman Maj Gen Ather Abbas denied that Pasha had gone to Saudi Arabia and insisted that Pasha was in Islamabad.
The Xinhua report added: "Pakistan is likely to send envoys to other friendly countries in view of the tension with the US, sources said."
The party-owned Global Times carried two reports from AFP/Reuters news agencies relating, inter alia, to the unconnected visits of Gen James Mattis, the US CENTCOM Commander, to Islamabad; and of Meng Jianzhu, Chinese Minister For Public Security, to Islamabad, and the cancellation of the visit of Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), to London.
While the Chinese media has so far restricted itself to reporting the arrival of the Chinese Public Security Minister in Islamabad, the Pakistani media has given more details of the visit.
Among those whom he met are President Asif Ali Zardari, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Gen Kayani and Gen Khalid Shameem Wyne, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
It was reported that Meng and Gen Wyne discussed "the emerging geo-strategic situation of the region". Meng was quoted by a Pakistan Army statement as having praised "the role played by the armed forces of Pakistan in the fight against terror."Meng was also quoted by the Pakistani media as saying that China stood by Pakistan and reaffirming China's support to Pakistan in the fight against militancy and for the promotion of regional peace and stability.
During Meng's meeting with President Zardari on the night of 26 September, officials of the two countries signed a number of agreements, reportedly valued at $250 million, on economic and technical assistance, flood relief and rehabilitation of some damaged parts of the National Highways networks. The Pakistani media reported that the Governor and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan were among those present at the signing ceremony.
In response to local journalists who asked whether the visit was connected to the tensions in Pakistan's relations with the US, Malik said: "Let's not talk USA here. I am here with my friend from China. China is always there for us in the most difficult moments. China has supported Pakistan at every critical juncture of its history. We are grateful to it."Thus, both sides were anxious to avoid giving the impression that Meng's visit was connected to the tensions in Pakistan's relations with the US. According to reliable Pakistani sources, the visit had been arranged much before the current tensions in Pakistan's relations with the US and was connected to the year-long observance of the 60th anniversary of the setting-up of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
China is just as interested as the US in seeing effective Pakistani action against the sanctuaries of the Haqqani network in North Waziristan because the sanctuaries of the IMET are also reportedly located in the same area.
While strongly supporting Pakistan's counter-terrorism record – as China did after the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden at his Abbottabad hideout in May – China will avoid giving the impression that it is taking sides with Pakistan in its dispute with the US on the question of action against the Haqqani network.
China will have nothing to gain by justifying Pakistan's inaction against the Haqqani network. While avoiding any comments public comments on this issue that might be perceived as adverse to Pakistan, China would nudge Pakistan into acting against all terrorist sanctuaries in North Waziristan— whether of Al Qaeda, the Haqqani network or the IMET.
Here's why China won't take Pakistan's side in tiff with US | Firstpost