China shares no change in its stand on Kashmir issue while it defends CPEC
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Beijing, May 25: In a bid to defend its controversial CPEC project with Pakistan, China on Monday issued a statement stating that it (CPEC) is an economic initiative and has not affected its principled stand on the Kashmir issue, while it disregarded India’s protests as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has earned praises from both the Chinese as well as Pakistani sides in recent days for its progress. The praises came in line with the completion of establishment of 70 years of diplomatic relations of the two 'close allies'. China's massive infrastructure project connects it's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port in Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, while it traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), to which India has protested on international platforms. Whereas, China has been defending the CPEC, saying it is an economic project not aimed at any third country.
On Monday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the CPEC is one of the pioneering projects under the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) that has made important and major progress in infrastructure, energy, ports and industrial parks. He said the BRI is an open international economic cooperation initiative with objectives of enhancing regional connectivity and achieving common development. He said, “We are also extending the CPEC to regional countries, including Afghanistan. This will not only boost faster economic development in Pakistan, but also regional connectivity."
While talking about how China sees regional prosperity being furthered by the CPEC in view of India’s position that it passes through Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan, Zhao said the project has not affected China’s principled position on Kashmir. “China has stated its principled position on Kashmir many times. The CPEC is an economic initiative that targets no third country. It is not about territorial disputes and does not affect our principled position on the issue of Kashmir, he said. On the CPEC’s extension to Afghanistan, he said, “on third party participation in the CPEC, China is having discussions with third parties, including Afghanistan".