China Puts Pakistan’s US Outreach Under Scanner Ahead Of Strategic Talks

Last Updated:January 03, 2026, 10:48 IST

Beijing wants Islamabad to take China fully into confidence on its growing security and economic engagement with Washington.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L) and Pakistani Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir (R) greet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) upon his arrival for a meeting in Rawalpindi. (IMAGE: AFP FILE)

China is set to seek clear answers from Pakistan on its rapidly expanding engagement with the United States when senior officials from both sides meet in Beijing on January 4 for the Pakistan–China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, top diplomatic sources told CNN-News18.

According to sources, Beijing has conveyed its expectation that Islamabad will take China “fully into confidence" on all recent and ongoing Pakistan–US security, strategic and economic engagements, amid growing signs of renewed closeness between Washington and Islamabad.

A senior source said China has specifically sought clarity on Pakistan’s evolving ties with the US, including recent high-level political and military contacts, ahead of the dialogue.

The strategic meet comes at a time when Pakistan’s engagement with the US has gained momentum, including former Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir’s high-profile interactions in Washington and reports of discussions linked to US regional security interests, including Gaza.

The administration of US President Donald Trump had last year urged Pakistan’s military leadership to consider deploying troops to Gaza to help disarm Hamas — a move that could trigger domestic backlash, given Pakistan’s strong support from a major section of the public for the Palestinian Hamas.

These developments, sources added, have been closely watched in Beijing.

The Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue is the highest consultative mechanism between Pakistan and China, providing a structured platform to review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global developments.

Pakistan is expected to brief Chinese authorities on the nature, scope and limits of its cooperation with Washington, while stressing that its engagement with the US does not come at the cost of its long-standing partnership with China.

Sources said Islamabad has already prepared a detailed presentation outlining both Pakistan–China and Pakistan–US strategic, substantive and tactical relationships, in an effort to reassure Beijing.

China, in turn, has placed two clear demands on the table ahead of the dialogue, sources said. First, Beijing wants a streamlined “one-window operation" for trade, investments and clearance of payments linked to Chinese projects in Pakistan.

China is also closely tracking Pakistan’s ability to service Chinese state-funded loans. Beijing remains Pakistan’s largest bilateral creditor, with tens of billions of dollars committed across infrastructure, energy and transport projects, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The dialogue will also focus on CPEC 2.0, including proposals to expand the corridor to Afghanistan, along with rising regional security challenges and terrorism concerns. CPEC is the flagship infrastructure corridor under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, linking western China to Pakistan’s Gwadar port through roads, railways, energy projects and industrial zones.

Second, China has demanded foolproof security for Chinese citizens and installations in Pakistan.

Security concerns remain a major point of friction. Over the last five years, at least 19 Chinese nationals have been killed in Pakistan, with eight major attacks targeting Chinese citizens or Chinese-linked installations, according to official data cited by sources. The issue is expected to figure prominently in the talks.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will co-chair the dialogue in Beijing. The Chinese side will be led by senior officials from the foreign ministry.

During the meeting, the two sides are also expected to announce initiatives and commemorative activities ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China in 2026, sources said.

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