On the editorial 'Belt and Road Initiative'

I. Mallikarjuna Sharma

On the editorial 'Belt and Road Initiative', it should have also delineated the positive achievements and results accruing to various countries subscribing to this project. Chinese always talk of a win-win situation, even when it is alliance and collaboration with enemy country companies and administrative authorities. As far as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is concerned, it does not mean totally neglecting India's claims etc. but a pragmatic policy. Pakistan has not just 'virtual sovereignty' but 'actual control and physical possession' of the regional chunks concerned and in the present conditions it cannot be got back by any use of force but only by the exceptional circumstance of a negotiated deal with Pakistan. In view of that China has been pushing the Belt project with the recognition of actual conditions on the ground without at the same time committing itself to any particular position regarding recognition of any country's (India's or Pakistan's) sovereignty over it.

Jun 03, 2017

Frontier
Vol. 49, No.47, May 28 - Jun 3, 2017