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INDIA SLAMS CHINA PAK

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS | THIRD COUNTRIES IN CPEC: INDIA SLAMS CHINA PAK | 27TH JULY | INDIAN EXPRESS

/ July, 2022, UPSC Daily Current Affairs

SYLLABUS SECTION: GS II (BILATERAL RELATIONS)

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, India slams China and Pakistan for their efforts to encourage third countries to join projects relating to the China Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC).

CHINA–PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CPEC):

  • China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collection of infrastructure projects that are under construction throughout Pakistan since 2013.
  • The CPEC was launch in 2013 to improve Pakistan’s road, rail and energy transportation infrastructure,
  • Besides connecting its deep-sea port of Gwadar with China’s Xinjiang province.
  • The CPEC is part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
  • CPEC passes through the dispute region of Kashmir where Indian and Pakistani border guards have occasionally exchange fire across the Line of Control.
  • The Government of India, which shares tense relations with Pakistan,
  • Objects to the CPEC project as upgrade works to the Karakoram Highway are taking place in Gilgit Baltistan; territory that India claims as its own.

INDIA’S AND CPEC

  • India has opposed CPEC since inception in view of its opaque nature and uneven balance towards Beijing.
  • This corridor passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK),
  • India has flagged its objection about Chinese project “that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
  • The strategic location of port of Gwadar could be use against Indian SLOCs, threatening hydrocarbon supply through the Strait of Homruz.
  • Chinese economic influence increases in South Asian countries, the balance may tilt towards Beijing, with even a futuristic containment policy towards India.
  • Chinese control over transport routes in Pakistan and growing Chinese relations with Iran, India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia may be restricted.
STEPS TAKEN BY INDIA TO COUNTER THE BRI/OBOR
  • India has rightly transformed its ‘Look East’ policy to ‘Act East’ policy | INDIA SLAMS CHINA PAK.
  • , India is pursuing to be a partner in International North South Transport Corridor, ensuring access to Central Asia with its ‘Go West’ strategy.
  • India’s interest in development of strategic Chabahar port in Iran is viewed as a counter to Gwadar.
  • India and Japan are also collectively working on ‘Asia Africa Growth Corridor’ (AAGC).

Read more: UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS