China's Dominance Over Pakistan's Military Evident in AMAN-25 Naval Exercise

Nearly a week after AMAN-25, Pakistan's biennial multinational naval exercise, one thing is clear: while Pakistan may have hosted the event, China has dictated how the world perceives it.

China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and state-affiliated media have aggressively framed AMAN-25 as a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)-led success, reinforcing Beijing's growing dominance over Pakistan's military affairs. Meanwhile, Pakistan's own voice has been conspicuously absent.

The official AMAN-25 website run by the Pakistan Navy remains outdated, lacking any post-exercise update. A press release on the event's conclusion is missing from major platforms.

In contrast, China's MND published a joint-bylined article on its website, positioning itself as the primary driver of the exercise and effectively sidelining Pakistan. China's Military Online, MND, and Global Times dominated the coverage, amplifying Beijing's perspective while minimising Pakistan's role, ensuring that international narratives aligned with China's framing of AMAN-25.

This episode highlights a larger reality: Pakistan, once a key American ally with strategic autonomy, is now a client state of China, increasingly dependent on Beijing for defence, diplomacy, and economic survival.

China Takes Charge of AMAN-25

AMAN-25, held from February 7-11 in Karachi, was meant to showcase Pakistan's leadership in maritime security, with over 60 participating nations. Yet, in the days following the exercise, China emerged as the dominant voice shaping its global perception.

China's MND emphasised the "excellence" of PLAN troops and their leadership in key operations, framing AMAN-25 to validate China's growing regional influence. Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities remained largely silent. "This was Pakistan's opportunity to assert its role in regional security," said a Pakistani analyst on the condition of anonymity, "Instead, China filled the vacuum," the analyst added.

Pakistan's Military Under China's Influence

AMAN-25 is the latest indication of Pakistan's overwhelming reliance on China. The Pakistan Navy operates primarily with Chinese-built warships and submarines, and PLAN-trained officers increasingly shape its operational doctrine. Financially, Pakistan is tied to China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar initiative that has left Islamabad heavily indebted to Beijing.

Gwadar Port, initially envisioned as a Pakistani-controlled commercial hub, is now widely speculated to be evolving into a future Chinese naval outpost, raising concerns over long-term PLAN deployments in the Arabian Sea. 

While the reason behind Pakistan's passive narration is unknown, the outcome is clear: China's version of AMAN-25 has dominated the conversation, reducing Pakistan's visibility in its own exercise.

A Client State, Not a Regional Power

AMAN-25 was meant to highlight Pakistan's leadership in regional security. Instead, it showcased Pakistan's growing reliance on China. Beijing controlled the post-exercise messaging, while Pakistan remained silent. The event reinforced China's naval ambitions in the region and solidified its influence over Pakistan's military.

For Islamabad, the key question is no longer about naval diplomacy. It is about sovereignty: Is Pakistan still making its own strategic decisions—or is Beijing making them on its behalf?