The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger “One Belt One Road” initiative .Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same. (150 words)
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major infrastructure project that aims to connect China’s western region to the Pakistani port of Gwadar through a network of highways, railways, and pipelines. It is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger “One Belt One Road” (OBOR) initiative, which aims to enhance connectivity and cooperation between countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Reasons why India has distanced itself from CPEC:
• Sovereignty concerns: India has raised concerns over the CPEC’s route passing through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which India claims as its own territory. India sees the project as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Strategic concerns: India views the CPEC as a strategic move by China to gain access to the Indian Ocean and encircle India.
• Economic concerns: India is concerned that the CPEC will lead to a trade imbalance with China, as it would provide China with easy access to the Pakistani market while limiting India’s access.
• Environmental concerns: India is concerned about the environmental impact of the CPEC, as the project involves large-scale infrastructure development in ecologically sensitive areas.
In summary, India has distanced itself from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor due to sovereignty, strategic, economic, and environmental concerns. While the CPEC is seen as a significant infrastructure project that could benefit the region, India’s concerns about the project’s impact on its sovereignty and security have led to its opposition.
