Q12.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.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project and cardinal subset of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming for regional connectivity.

Brief Description

CPEC connects Kashgar in China's Xinjiang province to Pakistan's Gwadar Port. It involves extensive infrastructure development, including roads, railways, energy projects, and special economic zones, to boost trade and economic growth.

Reasons for India's Distance

• Sovereignty Violation: CPEC passes through Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), violating India's sovereignty.
• Strategic Concerns: India views CPEC as part of China's 'string of pearls' strategy, increasing Beijing's presence in its neighbourhood and enabling dual-use infrastructure.
• Economic Implications: Concerns include a potential 'debt trap' for Pakistan, lack of transparency, and adverse environmental impacts.
• Geopolitical Ramifications: CPEC exacerbates regional tensions, altering the balance of power in South Asia.

India maintains a firm stance against CPEC, consistently reiterating its objections on international platforms.