CPEC not targeted at any country: China

beijing — Asserting that its ambitious $46 billion economic corridor is not targeted at any third country, China has said it will work with Pakistan to ensure “smooth running” of the strategic project.

“The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a new cooperation framework set up by the two countries for the future development of bilateral cooperation across the board. Not targeted at any third country,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

Hua declined to comment on one of China’s prominent official think tanks warning that China and Pakistan will initiate “joint steps” if any “Indian factor” is found to disrupt the CPEC.

“I don’t want to comment on remarks of some scholars,” she said.

She said China will work with Pakistan for smooth running of the CPEC.

“The corridor is conducive to promoting regional connectivity as well as peace, stability and development. China is willing to work alongside Pakistan to ensure the smooth running of the corridor,” she said.

While China is maintaining official silence on Modi’s tirade on Balochistan during the Independence Day speech, it however riled the official Chinese strategic think tanks who were vocal in asserting that China will resort joint action with Pakistan against India for any disruption to the CPEC.

“My personal view is that if India is adamant and if Indian factor is found by China or Pakistan in disrupting the process of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), if that becomes a reality, it will really become a disturbance to China-India relations, India-Pakistan relations,” South Asia expert Hu Shisheng said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a state-run Chinese daily on Monday cried foul over India’s move to extend enhanced compensation for victims of terror to people of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “lost patience and switched to the expected hardline tone of hostility”. — PTI