Chinese state media ridicule India's boycott of OBOR Summit
Chinese state media has suggested that India's "shallow analysis of state interests, and an outdated understanding of geopolitics," led to its boycott of the recent Belt and Road forum. It added that such thinking has the capability to completely destroy bilateral ties between Beijing and New Delhi. It said India was "the only country that has expressed disapproval" over the project.
What is OBOR?
The One Belt One Road Initiative, later renamed the Belt and Road Initiative, has two components: a land based Silk Road Economic Belt and a sea based Maritime Silk Road. It aims to connect Asia and Europe through a network of industrial and trade corridors, enhancing Eurasia's connectivity with China. Through OBOR, China plans to boost international influence and achieve industrial capacity co-operation.
What is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor?
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an under construction, multi-billion dollar development project which seeks to improve Sino-Pak connectivity and enhance regional trade. The project envisages the creation of energy pipelines, road-and-rail links and industrial trade corridors between China and the Pakistani port of Gwadar. It runs through PoK. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Nawaz Sharif announced the initiative on 22 May 2013 in Islamabad.
Cannot support OBOR: India
India opposes Chinese projects within PoK which are an extension of the OBOR initiative. Indian foreign ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay said "No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity."
India is too sensitive: China
The Chinese media said, "Rising nationalism has made Indian public opinion extremely sensitive on China-related issues. China insists the Kashmir dispute is between India and Pakistan and it has no intention of intervening. The CPEC is a cooperation project in a purely economic sense."
What did the article argue?
The article stated that political analysts in India, are stoking tensions between Beijing and New Delhi due to their narrow political views. It even called the JeM "a Pakistan based military group," justifying Beijing's denial to proscribe Masood Azhar at the UN. It added that India and China should be weary of people trying to misrepresent information and fuel bilateral tensions.
