China rebuts Modi criticism of CPEC

BEIJING: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi implicitly criticised China's connectivity projects for "overriding sovereignty" of other nations, Beijing said its corridor through Azad Kashmir was neither aimed at India nor reflective of its position on Kashmir.

Speaking at inauguration of the second Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, the PM said "connectivity in itself cannot override or undermine the sovereignty of other nations". "Only by respecting the sovereignty of countries involved, can regional connectivity corridors fulfill their promise and avoid differences and discord," he said, in remarks interpreted by some analysts as criticism of Chinese connectivity projects such as the "Belt and Road". 

China defended the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Wednesday when asked about the PM's comments on connectivity and sovereignty. "In his remarks Prime Minister Modi did not directly mention the CPEC," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. "Regarding CPEC, this is a project that is devised for long term development in various fields. It is of great significance in regional connectivity and trade cooperation. It is for regional peace and development." 

China has told India that its "purely commercial" projects were "without prejudice" to its views on Azad Kashmir. India, however, has pointed to China's own objections of exploration projects in the disputed South China Sea, suggesting Beijing was applying a different standard.

On Tuesday, the PM was largely optimistic about the future of relations with Beijing, stressing that it was "not unnatural for two large neighbouring powers to have some differences."This sentiment was reciprocated by Beijing Wednesday. Hua of the Foreign Ministry said in China's view "in the management of our relationship and for peace and progress in the region, both our countries need to show sensitivity for each other's core concerns and interests". 

"In this process, China has been committed to respect the core interests and major concerns of each other and enhancing mutual interest and promoting cooperation. For differences and problems, we are clear that we will remain in touch with India and properly manage these differences and resolve them through friendly consultation," she said. 

Asked about the persisting differences on India's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and its bid to sanction Pakistan’s Masood Azhar at the UNSC sanctions committee, Hua reiterated that China did not see them as "bilateral issues", but added it was Beijing's desire to "resolve these differences through friendly consultation, instead of pointing fingers at each other and accusing the other of neglecting their core interests."