China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
2020 JUN 3
Preliminary >
International Relations > India and Neighbours > India-China
WHAT IS CPEC:
- CPEC is a joint project between Pakistan and China involving a network of highways, railways and oil and gas pipelines and fiber optic cables from China to Pakistani coast.
- The CPEC is part of China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative’.
STRUCTURE OF CPEC:
- It aims to connect the ancient Chinese trading town Kashgar in Xinjiang with Pakistan’s deep-sea Gwadar port in Balochistan.
- It also aims to develop special economic zones along the route, including power projects.
- The project runs about 3000 Km and the total construction cost of the project will be more than 46 billion dollars.
OBJECTIVES:
- Economic development of the Xinjiang region for China.
- Shortcut for China to Persian Gulf to secure oil imports.
- Spur industrial and economic activity in Pakistan.
INDIA’S CONCERN:
- CPEC passes through the PoK (Gilgit-Baltistan) (Pakistan occupied Kashmir).
- Thus, construction of CPEC challenges our territorial sovereignty and would further strengthen the Pakistan’s claim over the region.
- Gwadar port further expands China’s “String of Pearls” around India.
PRELIMS QUESTION:
Q. Consider the following statements on “China-Pakistan Economic corridor”
- Gwadar port in Pakistan is part of the corridor.
- It is part of “One Belt One road” initiative of China.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer to the Prelims question