(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: India calls China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Illegal

Topic: India calls China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Illegal

Guest:

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) P. C. Katoch, Defence Expert)
Prabhu Dayal, (Former Ambassador)
Professor Harsh V. Pant, (Head, Strategic Studies, Observer Research Foundation)

Topic Description:

The minister of state in the ministry of external affairs, V. Muraleedharan in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday said the government’s position on China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ or ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ has been clear and consistent. Government’s concerns arise in part from the fact that the inclusion of the so-called illegal ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’ as a flagship project of ‘OBOR/BRI’, directly impinges on the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. This so-called illegal ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’ passes through parts of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh which are under illegal occupation of Pakistan. Government has conveyed its concerns to the Chinese side about their activities in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and has asked them to cease such activities. Further, the Government is of the firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognized international norms. They must follow principles of openness, transparency and financial responsibility and must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of other nations.