China Defends Pakistan Corridor in Return of Indian Apprehension

China has clarified that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project is not aimed to target any third party and will not amend its stance on the Kashmir issue. The clarification was made after the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi indirectly criticized the CPEC. He told that China is not respecting India’s sovereignty as they see the trade route passing through Azad Kashmir, claiming it as India’s territory.

Narendra Modi has criticized the mega project in Delhi by saying, “Only by respecting the sovereignty of each country involved in the project, can regional economic corridor fulfill its promise and avoid discord and differences.”

However, Hua Chunying, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is destined for a long-term regional cooperation and development in various sector built up by Pakistan and China, which will facilitate regional connectivity, economic cooperation, trade as well as securing regional stability, peace, and development.”

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India’s concerns over CPEC has raised in recent weeks, followed by reports of China-Pak naval collaboration in Gawadar, Balochistan. This naval cooperation will serve as the entrance to CPEC. PM Modi had personally been against the CPEC and shown his reservations regarding the project to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but China has been not interested in his concerns.