India should not see the success of Gwadar port in Pakistan as a military challenge, Chinese experts said soon after the first Chinese ship arrived at the China financed port on Friday.
The move would open up a new cargo route for Chinese goods destined for the Middle East and Africa. The port, which was built in 2008, is being further developed as part of the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, which will pass through the disputed Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir. Indian experts feel that CPEC would enhance the military capabilities of both China and Pakistan, and make it possible for them to access the Arabian Sea in a more organized manner.
“The port will offer a new choice of route for Chinese cargo, that is true. But it should not be seen as a strategic project meant to counterbalance India or anyone,” Hu Shishang, director of the government run Institute of South and South East Asian and Oceanic Studies told TNN.
Gwadar, which was originally a fishing port, has been developed as part of the CPEC project, Hu said. But CPEC has several other elements including establishment of power houses and building a major road network covering 2,400 kms., he pointed out.
“But if you focus on security issues, it will mean failure of the project. The main purpose is development of the region as a whole,”Hu said.
Asked if China would talk to New Delhi about concerns that CPEC is passing through Kashmir areas that India claims to be its own, Hu said Beijing has no problems discussing the differences.
“We know the position of our Indian friends. China respects India’s position and is ready to discuss it,” he said, adding, “If India wants to discuss it, I think China would be ready to talk”.
Hu said China has already begun to adopt a broader outlook on its differences with India. There is already a lot of changes that you can see. Chinese and Indian envoys are now talking about Tibet issues as well. China did not want to discuss Tibet earlier”.
China constructed the Karakoram Highway in the Himalayas way back in 1979, and the CPEC is an extension of the project, he said. “We should consult the people living in that area (in Pakistan). They also have the right to good life,” he said.
Source:- Times of India
The post Success of Gwadar Port is not a threat to India: Chinese experts appeared first on Defence Update.
from Defence Update http://ift.tt/2eRSmmG
via IFTTT
No comments: