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The Chinese Foreign Ministry has dismissed United States (US) criticism that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through disputed territory, the Economic Times reported.
The $56 billion project passes through Pakistan's northern areas, which India claims is part of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir territory.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis told a US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week that the One Belt, One Road "goes through disputed territory, and I think that in itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday told the Press Trust of India: "We have repeatedly reiterated that the CPEC is an economic cooperation initiative that is not directed against third parties and has nothing to do with territorial sovereignty disputes and does not affect China's principled stance on the Kashmir issue."
It added that over 70 countries and international organisations, including the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN Security Council, have signed cooperation agreements with Beijing on the OBOR initiative and incorporated it into important resolutions.
Pakistan has also dismissed the US reservations over CPEC, asserting that it is a "development and connectivity project for the betterment of the people in the region and beyond".
“The international community should [instead] focus on human rights violations and heinous crimes committed by Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Kashmir,” read a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Saturday.
The new US position on CPEC has put further strain on already tense relations between the US and Pakistan, which also opposed the greater role Washington has assigned to India in Afghanistan in a strategy President Trump announced on Aug 21.
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Comments (67) Closed
Oct 08, 2017 05:18pm
Any development and connectivity project for the betterment of the people in the region is good and appreciable. Unless the ulterior motive is keep people in poverty. Here is the difference between the two superpowers US and China. China builds America bombs.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:25pm
why usa is so concerned to CPEC, one super power envious of other!
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Oct 08, 2017 05:32pm
Is CPEC the road to the future for Pakistan ?
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Oct 08, 2017 05:38pm
It is here that Pakistan has to be ready for any future overtures against CPEC not only from outside but
from certain quarters from within the county.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:41pm
Interesting statement coming from a country whose citizens have no human rights at all. Their government even decides how many children they can have. First please practice what you preach in your own country.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:41pm
America please stop bombing.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:43pm
A friend in need is a friend indeed! China-Pak friendship is above all politics & prejudices. Live Long Pak-China
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Oct 08, 2017 05:44pm
“The international community should [instead] focus on human rights violations and heinous crimes committed by Indian occupation forces in Indian occupied Kashmir,” ~ A slap on the face of US and it's allies by China.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:45pm
CPEC is a road construction that goes through disputed Kashmir. It's not a road in the air. When its a road constructed in the disputed lands, how can China says it does not involve territorial soverwignity?
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Oct 08, 2017 05:48pm
USA and India on one page against CPEC. That is the real issue and not disputed territory. By acknowledging that kashmir is a disputed territory india has lost the argument on kashmir.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:50pm
@Harmony-1© True...China builds and America bombs, and the bombing and destruction by the US which gives fillip to the US military Industrial complex which is about 22% of US GDP, the highest in the world of any big economy, now wonder US needs wars and more turmoil around the world.
The war torn countries than sees US big construction companies, oil cartels, jumps into the reconstruction and revamping phases of the war destroyed countries like Iraq and Afghanistan...this is how the cycle keeps on repeating.
Only now with the emergence of China that has stopped or slowing down.
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Oct 08, 2017 05:58pm
China sets the record right
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Oct 08, 2017 06:06pm
This shows clearly about mind map of US administration. This type of of US administration had already committed a crime against humanity in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and seeking all possibilities to make this world hell. Pakistan,China and other peace and prosperity-seeking nations in the region and beyond must send a clear message to the US and its criminal ally India and keep them off.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:07pm
@M. Emad : It's like the the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz! You'll only know how true the fantasy is once you get there!
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Oct 08, 2017 06:10pm
In that case why china starts babbling when Japan orbUSA invests in North east.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:15pm
American interest in region is to destabilise. Good soft and simple response.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:16pm
What a silly joke? What else they say to keep afloat?
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Oct 08, 2017 06:22pm
CPEC Is very important for the government and has nothing to do with the people of the region. Cpec is the main gateway but it's useless for the region. Even the people have not yet given the road compassion.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:28pm
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Indeed China is our best friend...A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success which American would never...
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Oct 08, 2017 06:43pm
By this logic India should have connectivity with Afghanistan since this is only economic issue.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:51pm
Good, now we can connect to Central Asian countries directly through Tibet and Xinxiang. It will have nothing to do with disputed territory.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:53pm
Friends sometimes have to break silence and speak
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Oct 08, 2017 06:55pm
Then why is China concerned about Japanese investment in Arunachal Pradesh.this is height of hippocracy.
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Oct 08, 2017 06:57pm
What is China's principled stance on the Kashmir issue?
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Oct 08, 2017 07:04pm
May be Pakistan should invite US to invest in CPEC project. There is an excellent opportunity for US companies to invest and generate revenue, gas stations, track stops repairs, part suppliers, trucking, transport companies, road building and so on.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:06pm
Excellent, correct and true statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasizing and clarifying the fact that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC as commonly known, is an economic cooperation initiative between 70 countries and various other global institutions, firms, enterprises, organizations and companies. In fact, CPEC is just like NAFTA, European Union of EU, CAFTA, ASEAN, GCC and so on. Unfortunately, the "movers and shakers" in Washington D.C. under the command and control of Donald Trump and his cronies are unable to understand CPEC for various reasons, the main being their biased, discriminating and prejudiced attitude and behavior towards Muslims in general and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in particular.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:09pm
why not japan ,india , usa invest in hongkong and scs and taiwan give them democracy as this has nothing to do with disputed territories too
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Oct 08, 2017 07:09pm
"Any development and connectivity project for the betterment of the people in the region is good and appreciable"
Very true. Indians thank China for the infrastructure buildup in the disputed regions. Finally under Modi, India is fighting back both China and Pakistan, diplomatically and militarily. After all, the truth shall persevere, in spite of a million skewed narratives.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:11pm
@M. Emad "Is CPEC the road to the future for Pakistan ?"
Maybe. Time will tell
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Oct 08, 2017 07:30pm
@M. Emad Sir CPEC is China centric and China designed it as per their wish.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:32pm
A question to Indians. If Kashmir is disputed then why are you suppressing the Kashmiris in IOK and why have you built multiple dams in Kashmir? Either it’s disputed in which case agree to a plebiscite and referendum or please keep quiet.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:33pm
Then why China blocking international lenders from taking up project in Kashmir and Arunachal.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:43pm
Extending the same logic,the South China Sea area should also become an example of economic co-operation and mutual development for all the neighbouring countries. Then why is China at loggerheads with almost all its neighbours over there for territorial rights and sovereignty? It's pure hypocrisy on Chinese part.
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Oct 08, 2017 07:56pm
@Nouman Tahir Sorry, there is only ONE super power right now. Until China's per capita gdp reaches at least 75% USA per Capita GDP there is no way you can say it is a super power. It is still a DEVELOPING COUNTRY just like us and India of
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Oct 08, 2017 07:59pm
Any move anywhere which will free the people of any region from the clutches of the powers that be is seen as against that power and afraid of its authority and control eroding from that region, it has to try and stop all steps taken by anyone without the involvement or consent of such power. Of course, there are countries which will oblige the power by taking its side.
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Oct 08, 2017 08:29pm
The reason the Americans are criticizing CPEC is teofold. One is because they are worried about China's growing influence on the world stage. And secondly they want to keep India happy as the goal is to build up India as a counter to China.
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Oct 08, 2017 08:34pm
An appropriate and timely response from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
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Oct 08, 2017 08:44pm
Why is the US, its pet UN and the International Court of Justice fail to see the Indian atrocities against Kashmiris and incessant construction of dams in the disputed territories under its forced occupation? Why was there no objection to the opening of Karakorum Highway completed in 1976 in the same area? If not these, what are the double standards?
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Oct 08, 2017 09:01pm
Then China should not claim sovereignty over South China Sea even when the works court has declared it illegal
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Oct 08, 2017 09:03pm
Really? Then why China was up sate when the US Ambassador Richard Varma visited Arunachal ?
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Oct 08, 2017 09:05pm
@M. Emad -rally mr Foreign miister ? and how would you feel if usa make a bridge and develop "south china sea" ?
will that amount to same statement you are making now?
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Oct 08, 2017 09:05pm
So what he says is anyone can build road through any ones country without asking their permission. Fantastic and Thank you.
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Oct 08, 2017 09:07pm
CPEC has muddled goals and muddled thinking, it is all things to all people.
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Oct 08, 2017 09:14pm
@M. Emad, have heart man CPEC is the Pakistan's Economy guarded by the two C's on either side and it is the future of world trade. Imagine when each item would be further 20% cheaper for the entire world!
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Oct 08, 2017 09:24pm
In other words, don't expect China to play mediator in the Kashmir issue.
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Oct 08, 2017 09:24pm
Since 1947 many mega projects happened in both sides of Kashmir viz dams, power generation projects, roads, bridges. All such constructions for benefit of the Kashmiris, certainly they gets jobs, and their land develops. CPEC is one of them, and must not be scandalized, CPEC as well as OBOR are uniform benefits for the regional nations, and
no political dimensions whatsoever.
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Oct 08, 2017 09:31pm
USA govt is loosing it's lost dignity further in love of India in south east countries.
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Oct 08, 2017 09:35pm
Cpec has already changed Pakistan there’s no question of will it or when. In 2 years we will be one of the fastest growing economies
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Oct 08, 2017 09:47pm
What suits China is always right!!
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Oct 08, 2017 10:00pm
@Harmony-1© what China does to human rights and Rohingyas cannot be submerged. Every Power has an agenda for themselves. Just because pakistan is aligned with China doesn't mean what ever they do look correct.
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Oct 08, 2017 10:02pm
China understands US and Indian opposition to it's rise as a Global Super Power.
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Oct 08, 2017 10:03pm
US should focus on her domestic shootings and how to control it. People are dying in us everyday, yet their politicians seem more interested in others affairs.
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Oct 08, 2017 10:14pm
It is interesting to see Pakistan's response here.
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Oct 08, 2017 10:34pm
Pakistan will soon realize that it is a great fianacial disaster
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Oct 08, 2017 11:52pm
Will eat grass if need be for CPEC
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Oct 09, 2017 01:52am
It is sad to see tensed relations between pak and us. This statement of us defence sec is just because of differences of stratagies in fight against taliban. Otherwise US knows very well that who is who and what is what. Looking forward to the normalisation of USPAK relations.
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Oct 09, 2017 04:00am
Keenly read and understand he is not saying GB/AJK is no dispute region. He is talking of business which is very much understood.
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Oct 09, 2017 04:12am
US position is a diplomatic victory for India.
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Oct 09, 2017 05:36am
No such thing is one belt one road. There can be many roads. China cannot have their way world will not accept. Super power is still USA.
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Oct 09, 2017 06:47am
@Nouman Tahir
why usa is so concerned to CPEC, one super power envious of other "
If in future so called Azad Kashmir ,if decides to join India then what happens to that part of CPEC that passes through this area? Remember it is disputed area and needs settlement. .Presently so called IOK could opt to be independent or join Pakistan.There fore in Indian Kashmir there are no foreign assets.
Please remember that.
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Oct 09, 2017 07:49am
The US should demand India obey UN resolutions and ask UN to call for an immediate referendum and let the Kashmiri citizens decide their own faith, the disputed area of Kashmir is illegally held by the Indian Army and CPEC is not going thru Indian occupied Kashmir. Thank you, China for protecting our interest and CPEC project.
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Oct 09, 2017 08:32am
@Nadeeem china never do friend ships with any country
. Just business
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Oct 09, 2017 11:10am
Inspite of pondering on plights of people of Kashmir, promoting peace in the region and resolving the Kashmir legitimate struggle, it clearly indicates that US - India
1. Havent accepted CPEC and trying best opening the prosperity knotes in region
2. Can't see Pak a prosperous country
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Oct 09, 2017 02:41pm
India should open an economic hub in Taiwan and hopefully there China will recall their stance on CPEC.
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Oct 09, 2017 04:34pm
@TBH - Yes, it doesn't mean whatever China does is correct. And that applies to all countries (including us) but going by you guys comments, you never do any wrong.
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Oct 10, 2017 08:20am
@Nouman Tahir China isn’t a super power just a copy cat.. there economy is based on the local presence of US manufacturing companies and access to large markets such as the US and India. China now understands how depended the they are o these markets.
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Oct 10, 2017 09:13am
Statement of Chines FM is good to the extent that it is directed to Chinese interest.Other than that, a thorough view of the slogan of disputed territory about GB is an open secret.Pakistani politicians and statesmen have long opposed declaration of GB as constitutional part of Pakistan pretending as if it will hurt Kashmir issue.Either its a strategic mistake from our rulers to have avoided this long standing issue of constitutional status of GB or in other words an evil thought of few people to keep this area away from main stream Now the issue being highlighted and en-cashed by other powers who never like Chinese influence in this region
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