China-Pakistan Economic Corridor violates India's territorial sovereignty: External affairs ministry

The 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor' (CPEC) violates India's territorial sovereignty and integrity, the Ministry of external affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry also added that despite reports indicating India may cooperate with China on the One Belt and One Road initiative(OBOR), the government had no such plans.

"Our position on OBOR/BRI is clear and there is no change. The so-called 'China-Pakistan Economic Corridor' (CPEC) violates India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity," the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

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Last year in May India refused to send its officials to the OBOR world conference in Beijing and has consistently distanced itself from the CPEC project between China and Pakistan.

"We are of firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognized international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality, and must be pursued in a manner that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity," India's external affairs ministry said.

India's neighbours Nepal and Myanmar have warmed up to China's OBOR project with several multi-billion projects set to be signed with Pakistan leading the initiative in large-scale existing train and road contracts with China.

The One Belt, One Road project seeks to connect China with South Asian and European nations through train, sea and road networks spread across vast swatches in central Asia and other nations.

Beijing believes greater connectivity would allow for free flow of goods over vast areas however India, including several European countries including France and the UK including the IMF have raised concerns over the project and Beijing's attempt to burden countries with deals on debts and development in Africa and Asia.