The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that reports of third countries joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects were seen by the government and any such activity by any party was a direct violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. MEA spokesperson Arindam Baghchi said India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the “so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan“. “Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable and India will deal with them accordingly,” Bagchi further said in the statement. Our response to media queries regarding third country participation in CPEC projects— Arindam Bagchi (@MEEAIndia) July 26, 2022
The MEA spokesperson’s statement came amid reports that Pakistan and China have decided to welcome “interested” third countries to join the multibillion-dollar CPEC, saying it is an “open and inclusive platform” for mutually beneficial cooperation. The third meeting of the CPEC Joint Working Group (JWG) on International Cooperation and Coordination (JWG-ICC) was held in virtual mode last week. India has earlier protested against China over CPEC as it is routed through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). CPEC is the flagship project of the Chinese government’s $60 billion Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and supported by President Xi Jinping.
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