Pakistan attacks expose China’s Achilles’ heel on international stage
- While there is a growing Chinese presence around the world, security experts warn that its citizens and businesses need better protection from a range of threats
A series of attacks against Chinese people and institutions overseas have exposed a weak link in the country’s efforts to expand its presence overseas
Industry insiders and analysts, speaking in the wake of last month’s attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi, said the country needed to be more aware of the risks from terrorism and improve security for its citizens and businesses.
The Karachi attack, in which two civilians and two police officers died along with the three attackers, was carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army, which has accused Beijing of destroying the future of the province.
Balochistan is at the heart of the US$63 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and is home to the port of Gwadar, where Beijing is said to be developing its second overseas military base.
The attack was the second targeting Chinese nationals in Balochistan in just four months. In August, six people, three of them Chinese nationals, were injured when a bus carrying Chinese engineers was attacked in the area.
Industry insiders and analysts said Chinese people overseas now face a higher risk of attack as the country expands its influence overseas.