Chinese state media on Monday said India’s refusal to participate in China’s high-profile Belt and Road (B&R) initiative was “regrettable”, calling New Delhi “sceptical, nervous and anxious”.
China’s state-run newspaper, Global Times, said New Delhi’s boycott will not at all affect the cooperation in infrastructure development among its neighbouring countries.
The two-day Belt and Road Forum (BRF) which is being attended by leaders from 29 countries, including Pakistan, at the Yanqi Lake International Convention Centre has been boycotted by India due to sovereignty concerns over the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“While India recently issued an official statement saying it would not be part of the “One Belt and One Road” (B&R) initiative, it will not affect the trend towards cooperation in infrastructure development among its neighbouring countries at all,” Global Times reported.
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“China would never force any country to participate in the B&R if it was too sceptical and nervous to do so. It is regrettable but not a problem that India still maintains its strong opposition to the B&R, even though China has repeatedly said its position on the Kashmir dispute would not change because of the CPEC,” it said.
The newspaper also warned that if India decided to join the initiative in the future, it might just have a “small role” to play.
“China has formally invited India to join the B&R. If India doesn’t want to take a part on the stage, then it should just be a good member of the audience. The role is still available if India changes its mind, but it may only be a small role if it is left too late,” it said.
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The report hit out at India's statement on Saturday that highlighted India's sovereignty concerns regarding the CPEC as well as the "debt burden" of countries in unsound connectivity initiatives.
“No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Gopal Baglay, ministry of external affairs spokesperson said, referring to the CPEC on Saturday.
The Global Times said: “It is strange that the onlooker is more anxious than the players. While India cares about its neighbours’ debt burden, the neighbours appear willing to take on more.”
On Saturday, Pakistan and China inked new deals worth nearly $500 million, covering airport, port and highway construction, it said. “As regards the potential debt burden, Pakistan’s repayments will peak at around $5 billion in 2022, but this will be offset by transit fees charged in the CPEC,” it quoted a media report and referred to Nepal officially signing a deal with China to join the B&R with plans to build a cross-border rail link that may cost up to $8 billion. (With PTI inputs)
