BEIJING: “All countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial intergrity,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, during his inaugural address at the high-profile Belt and Road Forum. Interestingly, India boycotted the summit, attended by leaders of 29 countries, over the very same concern of territorial integrity.
“No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Gopal Bagalay, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday. India boycotted the forum as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a part of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
China has even declared the CPEC as a ‘flagship programme’ of its OBOR initiative. The move, say analysts, has effectively closed the door to India’s involvement in the initiative.
“China has also stepped up its challenge to India by signing a MoU with Pakistan to fund and build two Indus mega-dams -- Bunji and Bhasha -- in disputed Gilgit,” tweeted noted analyst Brahma Chellaney. According to reports, Chinese will invest $50 billion in the hydropower projects in Gilgit.
Western media has termed OBOR as Xi’s attempt to position China at the ‘centre of a new economic order’.
“Xi, surrounded by autocratic leaders from Russia and Central Asia, pledged more than $100 billion for development banks in China... Noticeably absent from the gathering were leaders of major Western democracies,” The New York Times said.
However, the project also got a warm welcome from the UK and all of India’s neighbours, except Bhutan.
British Finance Minister Philip Hammond said the country “is a natural partner” for the project that comes as it leaves the European Union.
“We want more trade with the world, not less.” While Nepal said it couldn’t ignore OBOR as China was an “economic giant”, Pakistan’s Sharif said the project should not be politicised.