Guilty Conscience Needs No Accuser? Purely Economic, No Secret Military Projects Part Of CPEC, Says China

China has dismissed the New York Times (NYT) report that alleged that the country was covertly undertaking a project to manufacture military goods in Pakistan under the guise of the peaceful CPEC, reports Deccan Chronicle.

"According to our information the relevant report is not true,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying.

The NYT report had noted that Pakistani Air Force and Chinese officials were finalising a proposal to build Chinese military jets, weaponry and other hardware inside Pakistan, as part of CPEC.

“Chinese officials have repeatedly said the Belt and Road is purely an economic project with peaceful intent. But with its plan for Pakistan, China is for the first time explicitly tying a Belt and Road proposal to its military ambitions - and confirming the concerns of a host of nations who suspect the infrastructure initiative is really about helping China project armed might,” read the report.

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collection of infrastructure projects, totalling over $51.5 billion, being undertaken by China in Pakistan to modernise the latter’s infrastructure and strengthen its economy.

India has repeatedly raised objections to CPEC, as it passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and hence infringes on India’s sovereignty. The Corridor is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Also Read: CPEC Is China’s Plan To Make Pakistan A Client State, But Latter Will Pay For The Privilege