Syllabus Section: Current Events of International Level/ International Relations

 

Why in news?

China and Pakistan have signed a new military memorandum of understanding to boost their already close defence relationship, as the Defence Minister of China held talks with the chief of Pakistan Army on November 30th, 2020.

Highlights

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to enhance the defence cooperation between the Armies of China and Pakistan.

• Further, both sides discussed on their regional security issues, the matters of mutual interests and enhanced bilateral defence collaboration.

• Discussions on the on-going projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) also went on.

About China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

• CPEC is a bilateral project between Pakistan and China under the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. The project seeks to promote the connectivity across Pakistan.

• The project comprise of a network of railways, highways and pipelines accompanied by energy.

• It also comprises of industrial and other infrastructure development projects that link the Western part of China to the Gwadar Port in Pakistan.

• The project will China to access the Middle East and Africa from Gwadar Port thus, would enable China to access the Indian Ocean.

 One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative

• The project focuses on connectivity and cooperation between multiple countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. The project covers the 78 countries. It was announced in the year 2013. It comprise of the building of roadways, railways, power grids, maritime ports, oil and gas pipelines. It has two parts:

1. Silk Road Economic Belt which is a land-based project connecting China with Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Western Europe.

2. 21st Century Maritime Silk Road which is sea-based project connecting southern coast of China to the Mediterranean, Africa, South-East Asia and Central Asia.

India’s stand on OBOR-CPEC

• India does not support the project because; the CPEC passes through the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) region. India consider this against its sovereignty

 

Source: The Hindu