Several American administrations have entered office believing they could transform Pakistan into a reliable American ally. The good news for the United States is that it holds a structural advantage over China in this competition. For Pakistan, hedging between Washington and Beijing, or between Riyadh and Tehran, is not indecision awaiting resolution but foreign policy itself. Washington should judge Pakistan not by whether it reduces ties with China, but by whether it prevents China from monopolizing those ties. An exclusively Chinese Pakistan is worse for India than one that retains meaningful military, economic and diplomatic ties with the United States.