Abstract:
Since the end of the Second World War, the United States (US)
policy towards South Asia has changed several times, but its
ultimate goal - establishing its dominant role in the region - has
never changed. The US government has adjusted its ‗South
Asia policy‘ from many angles – from trying to unsuccessfully
resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan to
arguing about their ties to the Soviet Union; its ‗to-stay or
not-to-stay‘ quandary about Kabul to the mixed signals about
the region‘s two nuclear programmes, and advancing the New
Silk Road Plan and Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (lPEC)
Strategy, etc. These adjustments and new trends are not
necessarily targeted against the China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC) given historical timelines, but considering
USA‘s strong influence over South Asia, they would inevitably
affect or pose some challenges for CPEC. Therefore, China and
Pakistan need to pay greater attention to these new trends,
conduct comprehensive assessments of their influence on
CPEC, and develop strategies to cope with them actively.
