CPEC will not affect China’s stand on Kashmir: Beijing

From K J M Varma Beijing, Aug 31 (PTI) The China-Pakistan Economic Corridordoes not alter China’s long-standing Kashmir policy that theissue should be resolved bilaterally between India andPakistan, Foreign Ministry said today, as it pushed for theearly completion of the USD 46 billion project that traversesthrough the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). CPEC reached a phase of implementation in "all round way,"Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told amedia briefing here, adding that Beijing would like to workwith Pakistan to strive for "more progress and delivertangible benefits" to the two sides at an early date.  A sound mechanism has been put in place by both thecountries for the project to move ahead, she said. Asked about objections raised by India over the CPEC as itpasses through the disputed region of PoK, she said, "We arewell aware of these concerns but as has been said before, thisCPEC is a platform for long term development." "It targets no third country and we strongly believe thatthis Corridor will work for connectivity, regional peace anddevelopment," she said. "Our position on Kashmir issue is consistent. This issueis left-over from history between India and Pakistan. It needsto be resolved between India and Pakistan throughconsultation. "Our position on the building of CPEC will not affect ourstand on Kashmir issue," she said reacting to Pakistan PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif’s comments that the project not only haseconomic value but also strategic importance with far reachingsignificance. Chinese officials, media and strategic scholars havebecome vocal in last two weeks in airing Beijing’sdetermination to push ahead with the project as Prime MinisterNarendra Modi expressed concern over human rights violationsin Balochistan and PoK during his Independence Day speech onAugust 15. A Chinese scholar of an official think tank attached tothe Chinese foreign ministry had even warned that China maymilitarily get involved and take joint steps with Pakistan if"Indian factor" is found in disrupting the corridor. PTI KJVSUA AKJSUA