Q9. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same.

Model Answer:

Introduction

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a critical part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at enhancing global trade routes. CPEC connects China's Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s Gwadar port, facilitating trade between China, the Middle East, and Africa.

Body

Key Features of CPEC

  1. Economic Corridor: CPEC is a $62 billion investment involving the construction of roads, railways, energy projects, and special economic zones (SEZs), designed to boost connectivity and economic integration between China and Pakistan.
  2. Strategic Access: Gwadar port provides China with direct access to the Arabian Sea, bypassing the traditional trade routes through the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait, which are vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts.
  3. Energy Projects: A significant portion of CPEC funds are directed towards energy projects, addressing Pakistan’s chronic energy shortages and enhancing industrial productivity.
  4. Industrial and Economic Growth: CPEC is expected to generate millions of jobs in Pakistan and create new opportunities for industrial growth through the establishment of special economic zones.

Reasons for India’s Opposition

  1. Sovereignty Issues: India opposes CPEC because it passes through the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), an area India claims as its own. India views the project as a violation of its territorial integrity.
  2. Geopolitical Concerns: CPEC enhances China’s strategic foothold in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, which India perceives as an attempt to encircle it with pro-China infrastructure and alliances.
  3. Economic and Military Influence: By developing infrastructure in Pakistan, China is extending its economic and military influence close to India’s borders, raising concerns over security and regional stability.
  4. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Discomfort: India has expressed reservations about the broader Belt and Road Initiative, citing issues with debt traps and concerns over transparency and governance in BRI projects across the globe.

Conclusion‍

While CPEC holds great economic and strategic significance for both China and Pakistan, India has distanced itself from the project due to sovereignty concerns and the perceived threat to its regional security. India’s opposition reflects its broader apprehension about China’s expanding influence through the Belt and Road Initiative.

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