CPEC Phase 2 Relaunch: China–Pakistan Agreements Face Scepticism Over Debt, Delays, And Security Risks

The much-hyped relaunch of CPEC Phase II, featuring 11 new education and training agreements between China and Pakistan, has been met with growing scepticism as analysts point to chronic governance failures and mounting debt. While the agreements — including a Four-Party Agricultural Technology Base, a Center for Food Safety, and new diploma programmes in livestock and floriculture — promise to modernise Pakistan’s vocational and agricultural sectors, experts say they represent “flashy paperwork without follow-through.”According to TheDailyCPEC.com, almost 20 percent of all CPEC projects are either cancelled or indefinitely delayed due to “bureaucratic chaos, corruption, and administrative incompetence.” Despite more than a decade of lofty rhetoric, Pakistan’s infrastructure gaps persist, and its education sector remains underfunded and disjointed. The report underscores that the latest memoranda “serve political optics rather than deliver real outcomes,” reflecting a cycle of symbolic diplomacy that hides structural decay.Debt, Security, and the Mirage of DevelopmentEconomically, Pakistan’s dependence on Beijing deepens. Analysts estimate that Chinese loans now make up over one-third of Pakistan’s external debt, forcing the government to divert scarce resources away from education, energy, and health sectors. Even multibillion-dollar energy projects under CPEC have failed to prevent nationwide power outages that continue to cripple industries and schools.Security threats further compound the crisis. In Balochistan, insurgent attacks against Chinese personnel and CPEC assets have become frequent, prompting Beijing to demand heightened military protection. Yet, as local resentment grows over displacement and resource exploitation, security costs have soared and investor confidence has eroded.CPEC: A Strategic Win for Beijing, a Sovereignty Test for IslamabadProjects like Gwadar Port, once hailed as the crown jewel of CPEC, now stand as symbols of unfulfilled promise — plagued by inadequate infrastructure, low commercial traffic, and strong local resistance. Industrial zones remain empty, and promised jobs have failed to materialise.Experts warn that CPEC has morphed into a Trojan horse for Beijing’s Belt and Road ambitions, giving China control over Pakistan’s key assets while leaving Islamabad mired in debt and unrest. Until Pakistan establishes transparency, oversight, and local ownership, the corridor risks being remembered as a cautionary tale of sovereignty traded for short-term gains.