It has been a tumultuous two years in Pakistan and China's regional interactions. Since it was launched on April 20, 2015, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has sparked praise, skepticism, and even violence. The result is widespread confusion about what is driving this $55 billion energy and infrastructure effort, and how it will impact the region.
Praise has been heaped on the initiative by leaders of both countries. In a speech to Pakistan's parliament two years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping described CPEC as central to an "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership." The China-Pakistan friendship, he said, is "higher than the mountain, deeper than the sea, and sweeter than honey."
