News:Indian Government has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),a flagship project of the Belt and Road initiative(BRI) is illegal as it impinges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
Facts:
About CPEC:
- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) is the flagship project of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),a pet project of Chinese President.
- It aims at linking the city of Gwadar in South Western Pakistan to China’s North Western region Xinjiang through a vast network of highways and railways.
- The corridor also seeks to expand and upgrade infrastructure across the length and breadth of Pakistan.
India’s Objections on CPEC:
- CPEC passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir(Gilgit-Baltistan). This undermines India’s strategic interests and territorial integrity.
- India also shares a great deal of trust deficit with China and Pakistan and has a history of conflict with both.
- China’s increasing footprints in the South Asian region is detrimental to India’s strategic hold in Indian Ocean.
Additional information:
About Belt and Road Initiative(BRI):
- One Belt One Road(OBOR) or Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) is an ambitious project announced in 2013 by the Chinese President.
- It aims to connect the East Asian economic region with the European economic circle and runs across the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.
- The project consists of two parts namely the Silk Road Economic Belt which is land based and is expected to connect China with Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Western Europe.
- The second part is the Maritime Silk Road which is sea-based and is expected to connect China’s southern coast to the Mediterranean, Africa, South-East Asia and Central Asia.
