Pakistan's formal endorsement of China's position on Taiwan — including support for reunification 'by every possible means' — is drawing sharp scrutiny from strategic analysts, who warn it directly undermines US Indo-Pacific strategy even as Washington deepens tactical engagement with Islamabad. A new report by the think tank Politeia Research Foundation, published on 18 June, argues that the US risks 'shooting itself in the foot' by courting Pakistan while that country aligns ever more closely with Beijing.

What the China-Pakistan Joint Statement Said

The joint statement issued by China and Pakistan following a high-level meeting in Beijing explicitly backed China's stance on the South China Sea, according to the report. The document stated: 'Pakistan reaffirmed its strong commitment to the one-China principle and holds the view that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, and the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests.'

Analysts note that endorsing reunification 'by every possible means' is a significant escalation in diplomatic language, effectively legitimising the use of force as a policy option — a position that cuts directly against the foundational principles of US Indo-Pacific strategy.

The Strategic Contradiction Washington Faces

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly praised both Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with Munir's name featuring prominently in his public remarks. Yet, the Politeia Research Foundation report argues that this tactical warmth obscures a deepening strategic contradiction.

'As Washington deepens tactical engagement with Pakistan, Islamabad is simultaneously aligning itself more closely with China on Taiwan, the South China Sea, CPEC, and Beijing's broader strategic vision. This growing China-Pakistan strategic convergence raises serious questions about America's Indo-Pacific strategy and its long-term partnership with India,' the report stated.

This is not an isolated development. Pakistan's alignment with China on multilateral platforms has been consistent over the past decade, but the explicit endorsement of Beijing's Taiwan position in a bilateral joint communiqué represents a qualitative shift, the report argued.

Implications for the US-India Strategic Partnership

The report's concerns gain additional weight in the context of recent high-level India-US diplomacy. During his visit to New Delhi, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeatedly used the term 'strategic alliance' across multiple engagements — including delegation-level talks, a joint press briefing with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and public remarks — signalling that Washington views India as a long-term anchor in the Indo-Pacific.

The report highlighted the tension this creates: deepening ties with Pakistan risk eroding the credibility of that very partnership with India, particularly given New Delhi's long-standing concerns about Islamabad's role as a conduit for Chinese strategic interests in South Asia.

What the Report Recommends

The Politeia Research Foundation urged US officials to reassess both the policy approach and the depth of engagement with Pakistan. It warned that Washington must not allow tactical considerations — whether related to counter-terrorism, regional stability, or bilateral optics — to erode its core Indo-Pacific commitments on Taiwan's status quo, freedom of navigation, and the balance of power.

'The US must ensure that it is not shooting itself in the foot by undermining its own interests in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly regarding Taiwan, while at the same time weakening its partnership with India for the sake of Pakistan, whatever the reason may be,' the report concluded.

As the geopolitical fault lines in the Indo-Pacific sharpen, Washington's ability to hold together a coherent regional strategy — one that accommodates both its Pakistan engagement and its India partnership — faces an increasingly credible stress test.