Abstract
Indian Ocean remained the most important part of great power rivalry during the Cold War amid the former Soviet Union and the then U.S. The Soviets have demised and other actors are consolidating their strategic position. Among such actors, China has increased its attention as one Pentagon strategic document has revealed that it has the largest naval buildup now. This paper argues that to rise to an Asian power China needs strategic cooperation with Pakistan in the Indian Ocean. This paper is supported by Pakistan’s key location stretching from the Arabian Sea in the South where the Gwadar port is being progressed. The paper finds out that China in times of conflict with India alone or both India and the United States would be a great beneficiary for its movements of goods such as the military to military exchange and maintaining a smooth supply of energy from the Middle East. The paper recommends that by exploring China and Pakistan's strategic cooperation, the current strategic partnership between China and Pakistan would potentially consolidate their defense and economic areas in the long term.