UPSC Mains Answer: 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.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Pre-requisite: Understanding of China’s 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) initiative, launched in 2013, as a global infrastructure and economic connectivity project. Familiarity with India-Pakistan territorial disputes, particularly the Kashmir issue, and India’s historical st

Sub-category: International Relations (Post-Independence)

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The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project under China’s ambitious 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) initiative, aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic integration between China and Pakistan. Stretching approximately 3,000 kilometers, CPEC links China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, facilitating trade, energy pipelines, and infrastructure development. With an estimated investment of $62 billion, it encompasses highways, railways, energy projects, and special economic zones, promising economic growth for Pakistan and strategic access for China to the Arabian Sea.
India has distanced itself from CPEC for several critical reasons. Firstly, the corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a region India claims as its integral territory, thereby challenging India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Secondly, CPEC enhances China’s strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean, potentially altering the regional power balance and posing security concerns for India. Additionally, the lack of transparency and debt-trap diplomacy associated with OBOR projects raise apprehensions about Pakistan’s economic vulnerability and its implications for regional stability. India’s stance reflects its principled opposition to projects that disregard its core national interests and sovereignty.