China&#39;s right-leaning daily <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-harbours-sense-of-superiority-with-south-asian-countries-china-daily-29644">newspaper Global Times said today</a> that the country has increasingly become an &quot;influential driver of India&#39;s foreign policy decisions&quot;.

&quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-considers-obor-potential-hazard-new-delhis-clout-will-weaken-china-daily-28317">China&#39;s influence became</a> more palpable,&quot; the newspaper said, adding,&quot;This remains especially true of India&#39;s policy initiatives vis-a-vis the Asia-Pacific region.&quot;

The state-run daily said official expositions and press briefings denying China being the trigger &quot;only betray India&#39;s persistent vacillations&quot;, asserting that, &quot;China&#39;s $12 trillion economy and its $450 billion annual trade with ASEAN speaks volumes about leverages of India&#39;s $2.6 trillion economy and $70 billion trade with ASEAN.&quot;

The newspaper said both India and ASEAN see China as an important trade partner, therefore are &quot;conscious of not pushing the envelope on Beijing&#39;s core concerns too far.&quot;

&quot;Both India and ASEAN have become aware, even complacent, to these growing asymmetries and accepted Beijing&#39;s lead in several initiatives,&quot; the newspaper said.

&quot;Together India and ASEAN seek to balance, not confront, rising China,&quot; it said, pointing out that while India stayed away from China&#39;s OBOR initiative it is engaging with ASEAN for &quot;parallel connectivity projects&quot;.

&quot;The Delhi Declaration commits them(ASEAN) to work for faster implementation of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and to take it to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam,&quot; it said.

The newspaper said India is seeking to project its &quot;multicultural and leading epic Ramayana&quot; as its &quot;umbilical cord&quot; with Southeast Asian nations and trying to revive cultural links with ASEAN nations in which Buddhism is popular.

&quot;India is also conscious of China&#39;s decade-long lead in promoting World Buddhist Forum. So it seeks to revive cultural links with ASEAN nations in which Buddhism is popular,&quot; the newspaper reported.

China's Daily Times said the Delhi Declaration commits ASEAN to work for faster implementation of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and to take it to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

China's right-leaning daily newspaper Global Times said today that the country has increasingly become an "influential driver of India's foreign policy decisions". "China's influence became more palpable," the newspaper said, adding,"This remains especially true of India's policy initiatives vis-a-vis the Asia-Pacific region." The state-run daily said official expositions and press briefings denying China being the trigger "only betray India's persistent vacillations", asserting that, "China's $12 trillion economy and its $450 billion annual trade with ASEAN speaks volumes about leverages of India's $2.6 trillion economy and $70 billion trade with ASEAN." The newspaper said both India and ASEAN see China as an important trade partner, therefore are "conscious of not pushing the envelope on Beijing's core concerns too far." "Both India and ASEAN have become aware, even complacent, to these growing asymmetries and accepted Beijing's lead in several initiatives," the newspaper said. "Together India and ASEAN seek to balance, not confront, rising China," it said, pointing out that while India stayed away from China's OBOR initiative it is engaging with ASEAN for "parallel connectivity projects". "The Delhi Declaration commits them(ASEAN) to work for faster implementation of India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and to take it to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam," it said. The newspaper said India is seeking to project its "multicultural and leading epic Ramayana" as its "umbilical cord" with Southeast Asian nations and trying to revive cultural links with ASEAN nations in which Buddhism is popular. "India is also conscious of China's decade-long lead in promoting World Buddhist Forum. So it seeks to revive cultural links with ASEAN nations in which Buddhism is popular," the newspaper reported.

India seeking to revive cultural links with ASEAN through Buddhism, Ramayana: China daily

Commander of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-foreign-secretary-jaishankar-picks-four-big-disruptions-at-raisina-dialogue-30008">US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry</a> Harris during a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue said that nations should take &quot;tough decisions to keep the region safe and open.&quot;

Top officials comprising <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/need-to-identify-nations-who-are-sponsors-of-terrorists-army-chief-at-raisina-dialogue-29797">of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue</a> (QSD)&nbsp;-&nbsp;US, Japan, Australia and India pointed out that China needed to be countered.

Admiral Harris said he had &quot;no issues in engaging China&quot; if it is interested in keeping the region peaceful, safe and open, however, Japan&#39;s Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano it is very difficult to change &quot;China&#39;s aggressive policy&quot; which would make it &quot;isolated&quot; soon.&nbsp;

Admiral Kawano added that China had &quot;violated international rules in East China Sea and South China Sea&quot;.

India&#39;s naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba added that the region was &quot;facing trust deficiency&quot; and &quot;fear of insecurity&quot; and that there was a need for developing trust between countries in the region and &quot;transparent inter-operability&quot;.

Admiral&nbsp; Lanba&nbsp;said there is a &quot;change in the deployment of China&#39;s navy since 2008&quot;&nbsp;though there is no evidence of military purposes in its deployment. 
&nbsp; 
Australia&#39;s Vice-Admiral Tim Barret echoed Admiral Kawano&#39;s statement, saying: &quot;There needs to be a meaningful outcome from discussions among like-minded nations to take on China.&quot;

Top officials comprising of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) nations US, Japan, Australia and India pointed out that China needed to be countered.

Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris during a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue said that nations should take "tough decisions to keep the region safe and open." Top officials comprising of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) - US, Japan, Australia and India pointed out that China needed to be countered. Admiral Harris said he had "no issues in engaging China" if it is interested in keeping the region peaceful, safe and open, however, Japan's Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano it is very difficult to change "China's aggressive policy" which would make it "isolated" soon. Admiral Kawano added that China had "violated international rules in East China Sea and South China Sea". India's naval chief Admiral Sunil Lanba added that the region was "facing trust deficiency" and "fear of insecurity" and that there was a need for developing trust between countries in the region and "transparent inter-operability". Admiral Lanba said there is a "change in the deployment of China's navy since 2008" though there is no evidence of military purposes in its deployment. Australia's Vice-Admiral Tim Barret echoed Admiral Kawano's statement, saying: "There needs to be a meaningful outcome from discussions among like-minded nations to take on China."

At Raisina Dialogue, QSD nations point at 'China's aggressive policy'

India&#39;s security agencies deployed along <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinese-engineers-helping-pakistan-to-fortify-bunkers-along-loc-intelligence-report-29658">the eastern sector of Arunachal Pradesh</a> at the Indo-China border reported the presence of an unidentified flying object, intelligence sources revealed.

The troops observed the object flying from Loah Sikho which moved towards Himi Siko and then the same object returned from Himi Siko and went towards the China side.

The unidentified flying object was blinking light every 4-5 seconds and could not be clearly seen due to darkness, the report said.

According to intelligence officials, the aerial transgression from China had happened last month on December 18th. Flying objects were seen inside Indian territory at 4:55 PM(local time) to 5:15 PM deep inside 5.5 km into Indian territory.

Due to darkness, Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan border police(ITBP) were unable to identify the flying object.

Joint report of Indian Army and ITBP sent to the Home ministry mentioned 8 major transgressions by China&#39;s army into India in December.&nbsp;

As per the report, three major border transgression happened in the northern sector of Ladakh.

On December 20th, the Chinese Army had entered 6.6 km into the Ladakh by vehicle. On Dec 21st again the Chinese troops in vehicles entered 2km into&nbsp;Indian territory. On December 30th, the Chinese army again entered 5.5 km deep into India.

According to the ITBP report, &nbsp;border transgression in the Thakung post of the central sector of Ladakh on December 30th was reported after Chinese troops were seen near the north bank of Pangong Tso early morning 1 km into India.

On December 21st and 28th, the Chinese troops entered 19 km across the border in Depsang area of Ladakh and 13.5 km into Samar Lungpa of Ladakh area.

he troops observed the object flying from Loah Sikho which moved towards Himi Siko

India's security agencies deployed along the eastern sector of Arunachal Pradesh at the Indo-China border reported the presence of an unidentified flying object, intelligence sources revealed. The troops observed the object flying from Loah Sikho which moved towards Himi Siko and then the same object returned from Himi Siko and went towards the China side. The unidentified flying object was blinking light every 4-5 seconds and could not be clearly seen due to darkness, the report said. According to intelligence officials, the aerial transgression from China had happened last month on December 18th. Flying objects were seen inside Indian territory at 4:55 PM(local time) to 5:15 PM deep inside 5.5 km into Indian territory. Due to darkness, Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan border police(ITBP) were unable to identify the flying object. Joint report of Indian Army and ITBP sent to the Home ministry mentioned 8 major transgressions by China's army into India in December. As per the report, three major border transgression happened in the northern sector of Ladakh. On December 20th, the Chinese Army had entered 6.6 km into the Ladakh by vehicle. On Dec 21st again the Chinese troops in vehicles entered 2km into Indian territory. On December 30th, the Chinese army again entered 5.5 km deep into India. According to the ITBP report, border transgression in the Thakung post of the central sector of Ladakh on December 30th was reported after Chinese troops were seen near the north bank of Pangong Tso early morning 1 km into India. On December 21st and 28th, the Chinese troops entered 19 km across the border in Depsang area of Ladakh and 13.5 km into Samar Lungpa of Ladakh area.

Mysterious 'flying object' transgressed into Arunachal Pradesh, later returned to China: Intelligence report

China&#39;s right-leaning <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-key-pawn-in-the-indo-pacific-strategy-china-daily-26024">newspaper Global Times declared today</a> that India harbours &quot;a sense of superiority&quot; in relations with South Asian countries.

Referring to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-cant-just-copy-chinas-reform-model-china-daily-23903">Maldivian foreign minister Mohamed Asim&#39;s</a> visit to India last week, the state-run China daily said New Delhi regards itself as a &quot;key player&quot; in diplomacy with the Maldives.

Last month Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had met <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wont-be-easy-for-india-to-bring-sri-lankas-hambantota-to-life-china-daily-23767">Chinese President Xi and inked a number </a>of trade deals including a memorandum of understanding(MoU) on OBOR and a free trade agreement.

The Chinese daily said New Delhi was extremely dissatisfied with the Maldives signing a free trade agreement with Beijing. The newspaper reported that during his visit, Asim reiterated Maldives&#39; &quot;India First&quot; policy, adding that PM Modi also declared that India will ever be a &quot;reliable and close neighbour&quot; of the Indian Ocean country.

&quot;India insists on a superior status in its neighbours&#39; foreign policies, and has been wanting these countries to follow the &quot;India First&quot; policy since the end of World War-II,&quot; the newspaper said, adding that,&quot;the era when international relations were based on hierarchical differences no longer exists.&quot;

&quot;India, dealing with neighbouring countries with a sense of superiority, triggered dissatisfaction,&quot; it said.&nbsp;

&quot;Pakistan became the first South Asian nation to challenge New Delhi&#39;s arrogance and seeks ties with India on equal terms. New Delhi pushed back and ties worsened,&quot; the newspaper added.

&quot;When China initiated the practice of a new type of modern international relations based on equality and win-win cooperation, it was warmly welcomed by other nations in South Asia. India believes this poses a big challenge to its own diplomacy,&quot; the newspaper said.

&quot;Insisting on superiority over other countries as a diplomatic policy will not only impede the development of international relations, but also draw the country into a &quot;superiority&quot; quagmire,&quot; the Global Times said.

The Op-ed page article said it is therefore not hard to understand why the Maldives committed to the &quot;India First&quot; policy to &quot;assuage&quot; concerns of New Delhi.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Old concepts like power politics, hegemonism and hierarchical distinctions are gradually being abandoned. Ties based on mutual respect, fairness and justice as well as win-win cooperation,&quot; the state-run Chinese daily said, concluding,&quot;As an emerging power, India should no longer stick to outdated principles, but promote change and development of global ties.&quot; &nbsp;

Referring to Maldivian foreign minister Mohamed Asim's visit to India last week, the state-run China daily said New Delhi regards itself as a "key player" in diplomacy with the Maldives

China's right-leaning newspaper Global Times declared today that India harbours "a sense of superiority" in relations with South Asian countries. Referring to Maldivian foreign minister Mohamed Asim's visit to India last week, the state-run China daily said New Delhi regards itself as a "key player" in diplomacy with the Maldives. Last month Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had met Chinese President Xi and inked a number of trade deals including a memorandum of understanding(MoU) on OBOR and a free trade agreement. The Chinese daily said New Delhi was extremely dissatisfied with the Maldives signing a free trade agreement with Beijing. The newspaper reported that during his visit, Asim reiterated Maldives' "India First" policy, adding that PM Modi also declared that India will ever be a "reliable and close neighbour" of the Indian Ocean country. "India insists on a superior status in its neighbours' foreign policies, and has been wanting these countries to follow the "India First" policy since the end of World War-II," the newspaper said, adding that,"the era when international relations were based on hierarchical differences no longer exists." "India, dealing with neighbouring countries with a sense of superiority, triggered dissatisfaction," it said. "Pakistan became the first South Asian nation to challenge New Delhi's arrogance and seeks ties with India on equal terms. New Delhi pushed back and ties worsened," the newspaper added. "When China initiated the practice of a new type of modern international relations based on equality and win-win cooperation, it was warmly welcomed by other nations in South Asia. India believes this poses a big challenge to its own diplomacy," the newspaper said. "Insisting on superiority over other countries as a diplomatic policy will not only impede the development of international relations, but also draw the country into a "superiority" quagmire," the Global Times said. The Op-ed page article said it is therefore not hard to understand why the Maldives committed to the "India First" policy to "assuage" concerns of New Delhi. "Old concepts like power politics, hegemonism and hierarchical distinctions are gradually being abandoned. Ties based on mutual respect, fairness and justice as well as win-win cooperation," the state-run Chinese daily said, concluding,"As an emerging power, India should no longer stick to outdated principles, but promote change and development of global ties."

India harbours sense of superiority with South Asian countries: China daily

Chinese efforts to make best of the French President Macron&rsquo;s visit to claim the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), recently enshrined in the Constitution, have not been bought by the West. Macron has been balanced in choosing his words to say &ldquo;I want us to define together the rules of a balanced relationship in which everyone will win.&rdquo; Referring specifically to China&rsquo;s BRI to revive Silk Road trade routes, he said &ldquo;the ancient Silk Roads were never only Chinese&rdquo; and also &ldquo;the new roads cannot only go one way&rdquo;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Macron&#39;s words, therefore, underlines the fact that the BRI cannot be only China-centric with the bulk of contracts going to Chinese companies to revive their sliding economy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Many countries in the European Union see the $1 trillion BRI as an example of Chinese expansionism and the proposed deals lacking transparency and level playing field, highly skewed in favor of China.

&nbsp;

From the conception of the One Belt One Road (OBOR), later published in BRI document, it was quite clear that the BRI project has been conceived by China, to improve its connectivity with four continents to increase its infrastructure investments, utilise it&#39;s capacities and trade surpluses, besides increasing its strategic footprints globally. It is a &#39;China First&#39; programme without calling it so. China planned to organised OBOR Summit last year, expecting attendance of all global leaders, but when it was clear that the world will not sign on the dotted line of China, and most top leaders will not attend, it was renamed as Belt and Road Forum (BRF).

&nbsp;

BRI is also a tool for creating connectivity for Chinese global deployability to be able to take on a global leadership role. China wants the world to believe that it is a benign project for inclusive growth of partners, but the idea has been bought by only those countries which need Chinese capital or other support. Some others who cannot oppose China for various reasons have also followed it because of lack of choices.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The countries which joined the Chinese bandwagon were helpless, in dire need of capital to develop infrastructure in their country.&nbsp; Most of them now realise that it was exploitative. The problem still remains that who will provide the capital for such a fancy one-sided project conceived for China&#39;s economic survival and to fulfill its global leadership ambition? The European countries realise that with major contracts planned for Chinese companies, it is not a win-win project but only a China- win project.

&nbsp;

India boycotted BRF because China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), (part of BRI) passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), which as sovereign territory of India violates Indian sovereignty. No other country is confronted with an issue as serious as &ldquo;sovereignty issue&rdquo; in context of BRI as India, hence, India stance is well-justified.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Moreover, it is wishful thinking that militants harboured in Pakistan will ever allow our trade to pass through to CAR/Afghanistan. In case of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM), India has already established connectivity through Bangladesh from Kolkata to Agartala. The roads in the northeastern states are being developed by India, and connectivity to Myanmar is being developed bilaterally, hence, China-driven BCIM has very little to charm India.

&nbsp;

I feel that Chinese advertisement of Macron&#39;s support to BRI is part of popularising it. On Macron&#39;s part, it is part of diplomatic niceties, the depth of which will be known only when contracts pertaining to BRI are inked.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Chinese advertisement of Macron's support to BRI is part of popularising it. On Macron's part, it is part of diplomatic niceties.

Chinese efforts to make best of the French President Macron’s visit to claim the success of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), recently enshrined in the Constitution, have not been bought by the West. Macron has been balanced in choosing his words to say “I want us to define together the rules of a balanced relationship in which everyone will win.” Referring specifically to China’s BRI to revive Silk Road trade routes, he said “the ancient Silk Roads were never only Chinese” and also “the new roads cannot only go one way”. Macron's words, therefore, underlines the fact that the BRI cannot be only China-centric with the bulk of contracts going to Chinese companies to revive their sliding economy. Many countries in the European Union see the $1 trillion BRI as an example of Chinese expansionism and the proposed deals lacking transparency and level playing field, highly skewed in favor of China. From the conception of the One Belt One Road (OBOR), later published in BRI document, it was quite clear that the BRI project has been conceived by China, to improve its connectivity with four continents to increase its infrastructure investments, utilise it's capacities and trade surpluses, besides increasing its strategic footprints globally. It is a 'China First' programme without calling it so. China planned to organised OBOR Summit last year, expecting attendance of all global leaders, but when it was clear that the world will not sign on the dotted line of China, and most top leaders will not attend, it was renamed as Belt and Road Forum (BRF). BRI is also a tool for creating connectivity for Chinese global deployability to be able to take on a global leadership role. China wants the world to believe that it is a benign project for inclusive growth of partners, but the idea has been bought by only those countries which need Chinese capital or other support. Some others who cannot oppose China for various reasons have also followed it because of lack of choices. The countries which joined the Chinese bandwagon were helpless, in dire need of capital to develop infrastructure in their country. Most of them now realise that it was exploitative. The problem still remains that who will provide the capital for such a fancy one-sided project conceived for China's economic survival and to fulfill its global leadership ambition? The European countries realise that with major contracts planned for Chinese companies, it is not a win-win project but only a China- win project. India boycotted BRF because China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), (part of BRI) passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), which as sovereign territory of India violates Indian sovereignty. No other country is confronted with an issue as serious as “sovereignty issue” in context of BRI as India, hence, India stance is well-justified. Moreover, it is wishful thinking that militants harboured in Pakistan will ever allow our trade to pass through to CAR/Afghanistan. In case of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM), India has already established connectivity through Bangladesh from Kolkata to Agartala. The roads in the northeastern states are being developed by India, and connectivity to Myanmar is being developed bilaterally, hence, China-driven BCIM has very little to charm India. I feel that Chinese advertisement of Macron's support to BRI is part of popularising it. On Macron's part, it is part of diplomatic niceties, the depth of which will be known only when contracts pertaining to BRI are inked. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Should India take French President's visit to China as endorsement of BRI?

President Xi presented Wang Zeshan, 82, with the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award at a ceremony in Beijing.&nbsp;

Born in China&#39;s Jilin Province in 1935 which was under Japanese occupation, Zeshan has been responsible for propping up the People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) with weapons to tackle Taiwan and India&#39;s military on the China border, and vastly enhancing its gunpowder charges.

He has done major work in propellants and explosives technology and credited with improving the firing range of Chinese artillery. The dynamite specialist was the first to develop technology for reusing obsolete explosives, China&#39;s Xinhua news agency noted.

China&#39;s top science award winner is a professor with Nanjing University of Science &amp; Technology and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.&nbsp;

Zeshan continues to challenge himself despite spending over 60 years in developing new technologies, his new goal involves manufacturing of smokeless powder which he says &quot;hasn&#39;t been solved since it emerged more than 100 years ago.&quot;

China has applied Zeshan&#39;s research in several weapons especially in the long-range Guardian launch rocket system.

Zeshan has been responsible for propping up the People's Liberation Army with weapons to tackle Taiwan and India's military on the China border

President Xi presented Wang Zeshan, 82, with the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award at a ceremony in Beijing. Born in China's Jilin Province in 1935 which was under Japanese occupation, Zeshan has been responsible for propping up the People's Liberation Army (PLA) with weapons to tackle Taiwan and India's military on the China border, and vastly enhancing its gunpowder charges. He has done major work in propellants and explosives technology and credited with improving the firing range of Chinese artillery. The dynamite specialist was the first to develop technology for reusing obsolete explosives, China's Xinhua news agency noted. China's top science award winner is a professor with Nanjing University of Science & Technology and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Zeshan continues to challenge himself despite spending over 60 years in developing new technologies, his new goal involves manufacturing of smokeless powder which he says "hasn't been solved since it emerged more than 100 years ago." China has applied Zeshan's research in several weapons especially in the long-range Guardian launch rocket system.

Wang Zeshan - 'master of gunpowder' - wins China's top science award

French President &nbsp;Emmanuel Macron on a three-day visit to China declared today that the country&#39;s key silk road initiative was &quot;never only Chinese&quot; and should be &quot;shared&quot;.

The Silk road initiative is President Xi&#39;s major foreign policy project&nbsp;and has been enshrined in the Chinese constitution in the 19th session of the Communist Party of China.

The One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative strives to link China to Asia and Europe through land and waterways to open key trade routes, a move which several nations including India have been resisting.

During his visit, Macron said: &quot;The ancient Silk Roads were never only Chinese, by definition, these roads can only be shared,&quot; adding,&quot;If they are roads, they cannot be one-way.&quot;

China has inked several agreements with Pakistan and Nepal to construct road projects to pave the way for the OBOR project to take root, however, India has been resisting the move after the foreign ministry said last year that several roads pass through the disputed PoK region in Pakistan.

Last month, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom pledged support for the OBOR project during his visit to Beijing. Belt and Road Initiative squares with the development strategies of the Maldives, Xi told Gayoom during the meeting.

The Chinese authorities are also keen to get Nepal and Myanmar to sign&nbsp;the OBOR project.

One Belt, One Road initiative strives to link China to Asia and Europe through land and waterways to open key trade routes

French President Emmanuel Macron on a three-day visit to China declared today that the country's key silk road initiative was "never only Chinese" and should be "shared". The Silk road initiative is President Xi's major foreign policy project and has been enshrined in the Chinese constitution in the 19th session of the Communist Party of China. The One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative strives to link China to Asia and Europe through land and waterways to open key trade routes, a move which several nations including India have been resisting. During his visit, Macron said: "The ancient Silk Roads were never only Chinese, by definition, these roads can only be shared," adding,"If they are roads, they cannot be one-way." China has inked several agreements with Pakistan and Nepal to construct road projects to pave the way for the OBOR project to take root, however, India has been resisting the move after the foreign ministry said last year that several roads pass through the disputed PoK region in Pakistan. Last month, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom pledged support for the OBOR project during his visit to Beijing. Belt and Road Initiative squares with the development strategies of the Maldives, Xi told Gayoom during the meeting. The Chinese authorities are also keen to get Nepal and Myanmar to sign the OBOR project.

China's new silk road can only be shared, cannot be one-way, says President Macron

China&#39;s state-run newspaper <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-president-abdulla-yameen-backs-chinas-obor-signs-mou-26163">Global Times in its Op-ed piece said today </a>that India still swears by the &quot;outdated geopolitical strategy&quot; and bases its &quot;sense of security on narrow national interests.&quot;

The right-leaning newspaper <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/eye-on-obor-after-beidou-satellite-launch-china-aims-to-build-own-global-positioning-system-23603">pointed that India reckons regional </a>cooperation promoted by China will bring about a zero-sum game and even &quot;jeopardize its national security and interests, adding that in the long run it would &quot;weaken&quot; &nbsp;New Delhi&#39;s clout because of its dwindling ties with adjacent states - in clear reference to Pakistan and Nepal which have increasingly leaned towards the communist state with the OBOR project set in full steam.

&quot;When some powers outside the region enter and affect India&#39;s sphere of influence, more countries in the region are eager to break away with India,&quot; it said.

&quot;As a result, the geopolitical game in the region surrounding India is likely to grow stronger,&quot; the newspaper added.

The newspaper linked its argument with the OBOR project which is President Xi&#39;s key foreign policy project aimed at boosting trade relations across Asia and Europe by building road and waterways linking countries to pave the way trade relations which is resisted by India since the road networks cut across disputed areas in PoK.

The Global Times said: &quot;India&#39;s opposition to the Belt and Road initiative not only deprives it of an opportunity for development and shows its jealousy toward its neighbours gaining from the initiative but also reflects New Delhi&#39;s dread and delusion with China.&quot;

The newspaper said the worldview suspects &nbsp;Beijing is trying to isolate India through the ambitious OBOR project, asserting that India&#39;s allegation of extending the CPEC project to Afghanistan may sound reasonable, highlighting that &quot;India brings trouble to itself making it lose development opportunities.&quot;

The newspaper said even &quot;Pakistan invited India&quot; to promote the building of the CPEC in December 2016, emphasising that extending the CPEC project to Afghanistan was not intended to &quot;undermine&quot; India, but to enhance the economic corridor.&nbsp;

&quot;The Belt and Road initiative is designed to boost international cooperation following the principle of shared growth through discussion and win-win cooperation,&quot; the newspaper said.&nbsp;

&quot;Instead of pursuing a country&#39;s growth at the cost of others or damaging interests of a nation, the initiative is a new geopolitical collaborative model,&quot; the newspaper added.

The editorial concluded saying: As emerging powers responsible for propelling the new international order, China and India should abandon outdated antagonistic mindset , uphold the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, participate in regional governance and develop new state-to-state relations.&quot;

The right-leaning newspaper pointed that India reckons regional cooperation promoted by China will bring about a zero-sum game

China's state-run newspaper Global Times in its Op-ed piece said today that India still swears by the "outdated geopolitical strategy" and bases its "sense of security on narrow national interests." The right-leaning newspaper pointed that India reckons regional cooperation promoted by China will bring about a zero-sum game and even "jeopardize its national security and interests, adding that in the long run it would "weaken" New Delhi's clout because of its dwindling ties with adjacent states - in clear reference to Pakistan and Nepal which have increasingly leaned towards the communist state with the OBOR project set in full steam. "When some powers outside the region enter and affect India's sphere of influence, more countries in the region are eager to break away with India," it said. "As a result, the geopolitical game in the region surrounding India is likely to grow stronger," the newspaper added. The newspaper linked its argument with the OBOR project which is President Xi's key foreign policy project aimed at boosting trade relations across Asia and Europe by building road and waterways linking countries to pave the way trade relations which is resisted by India since the road networks cut across disputed areas in PoK. The Global Times said: "India's opposition to the Belt and Road initiative not only deprives it of an opportunity for development and shows its jealousy toward its neighbours gaining from the initiative but also reflects New Delhi's dread and delusion with China." The newspaper said the worldview suspects Beijing is trying to isolate India through the ambitious OBOR project, asserting that India's allegation of extending the CPEC project to Afghanistan may sound reasonable, highlighting that "India brings trouble to itself making it lose development opportunities." The newspaper said even "Pakistan invited India" to promote the building of the CPEC in December 2016, emphasising that extending the CPEC project to Afghanistan was not intended to "undermine" India, but to enhance the economic corridor. "The Belt and Road initiative is designed to boost international cooperation following the principle of shared growth through discussion and win-win cooperation," the newspaper said. "Instead of pursuing a country's growth at the cost of others or damaging interests of a nation, the initiative is a new geopolitical collaborative model," the newspaper added. The editorial concluded saying: As emerging powers responsible for propelling the new international order, China and India should abandon outdated antagonistic mindset , uphold the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, participate in regional governance and develop new state-to-state relations."

India considers OBOR potential hazard, New Delhi's clout will weaken: China Daily

India has issued demarches to both <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protest-in-pok-against-pakistan-government-for-diverting-resources-26599">Pakistan and China conveying its position</a> on the construction of dams on the Indus river in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by the Pakistani government with assistance committed to these projects by China, the government said today.&nbsp;

Replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that any collaborative activity there is in violation of India&#39;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.&nbsp;

&quot;Accordingly, we have made demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying the position. The government continues to maintain this position,&quot; Singh said.&nbsp;

Replying to a separate question on China&#39;s &#39;One Belt One Road&#39; (OBOR) initiative, Singh said the government has clearly articulated its firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be &quot;based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law...and must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity&quot;.&nbsp;

He also asserted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), which is being projected as a flagship project of OBOR initiative, passes through parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which has been in illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947.&nbsp;

&quot;The government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concerns about China&#39;s activities in PoK and asked them to cease these activities,&quot; the minister added.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Minister of state for external affairs V K Singh said India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan

India has issued demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying its position on the construction of dams on the Indus river in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) by the Pakistani government with assistance committed to these projects by China, the government said today. Replying to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that any collaborative activity there is in violation of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Accordingly, we have made demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying the position. The government continues to maintain this position," Singh said. Replying to a separate question on China's 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) initiative, Singh said the government has clearly articulated its firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be "based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law...and must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity". He also asserted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), which is being projected as a flagship project of OBOR initiative, passes through parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir which has been in illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947. "The government has conveyed to the Chinese side, including at the highest level, its concerns about China's activities in PoK and asked them to cease these activities," the minister added.

India issued demarches to Pakistan, China on dams in PoK: MoS VK Singh

Pakistan&#39;s minister for planning and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cpec-will-aggravate-india-pakistan-tension-us-think-tank-25403">development Ahsan Iqbal said that</a> the government was examining a proposal to replace the US dollar with the Chinese yuan for trade between China and Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper reported.

In a widely reported spat between the two countries <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cpec-halted-funds-chinas-veiled-support-to-pakistan-army-26562">over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC)</a>, China had &quot;temporarily&quot; stopped funding of some projects in Pakistan under the (CPEC) over &quot;corruption&quot; issues.

The CPEC project includes projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore. As part of the project, China is set to invest heavily in 210-km Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob road, the Khuzdar-Basima road and the remaining portion of the 136-km Karakarom Highway which is worth Rs 8.5 billion.

During the meeting which was also attended by the Chinese ambassador Yao Jing, Iqbal said Pakistani currency would be used within the country, but China desired that bilateral trade should take place in its currency - known as &quot;Renminbi&quot; (RMB) or yuan, Dawn said.

The minister also added that China had not stopped CPEC-related investment in Pakistan as claimed by some quarters.

The CPEC project is set to be completed in three phases ending in 2030. The Pakistan government views the project as a job creation exercise and an initiative which is likely to boost trade.

The two sides agreed to establish and improve cross-border credit system and financial services, strengthen currency swap arrangements and establish a bilateral payment and settlement system, the Pakistan newspaper reported.

Pakistan government views the CPEC project as a job creation exercise and an initiative which is likely to boost trade.

Pakistan's minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal said that the government was examining a proposal to replace the US dollar with the Chinese yuan for trade between China and Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper reported. In a widely reported spat between the two countries over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), China had "temporarily" stopped funding of some projects in Pakistan under the (CPEC) over "corruption" issues. The CPEC project includes projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore. As part of the project, China is set to invest heavily in 210-km Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob road, the Khuzdar-Basima road and the remaining portion of the 136-km Karakarom Highway which is worth Rs 8.5 billion. During the meeting which was also attended by the Chinese ambassador Yao Jing, Iqbal said Pakistani currency would be used within the country, but China desired that bilateral trade should take place in its currency - known as "Renminbi" (RMB) or yuan, Dawn said. The minister also added that China had not stopped CPEC-related investment in Pakistan as claimed by some quarters. The CPEC project is set to be completed in three phases ending in 2030. The Pakistan government views the project as a job creation exercise and an initiative which is likely to boost trade. The two sides agreed to establish and improve cross-border credit system and financial services, strengthen currency swap arrangements and establish a bilateral payment and settlement system, the Pakistan newspaper reported.

CPEC clout: Now, Yuan may replace US dollar in Pakistan-China trade

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-host-trilateral-talks-with-china-russia-26379">Even as the trilateral meeting between India</a>, China and Russia kicked off in Delhi on Monday, China&#39;s right-leaning Global Times said bilateral conflicts should not be dragged into it, otherwise, the &quot;trilateral mechanism will be jeopardized without bilateral conflicts being addressed.&quot;

The daily said the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-winter-chinese-troops-establish-permanent-base-at-doklam-report-26416">meeting between foreign ministers and</a> &quot;the leaders of the three only meet with each other on international occasions, adding, &quot;this indicates it does not have high status in diplomacy and cannot bear more functions.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;India has benefited a great deal from the meeting,&quot; the newspaper said.&nbsp;

&quot;As China, Russia and India are all BRICS nations, and India participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the trilateral summit indeed has raised the status of India in these two organizations,&quot; it said.

The newspaper said while India is engaged in this trilateral meeting, it is also holding &quot;ministerial-level trilateral dialogue&quot; with the US and Japan.

&quot;India&#39;s recent tilt to the US has triggered doubts from China and Russia, and it may have a negative effect on the support that China and Russia could offer India,&quot; the newspaper observed.

The newspaper said the &quot;negative effect&quot; was the Russia&#39;s &quot;change in attitude&quot; over military cooperation with Pakistan.

&quot;As the US under former president Barack Obama dragged India into its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, but excluded it from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it showed the US supported India just out of its own interests, but not India&#39;s,&quot; the newspaper said, concluding,&quot;the cooperation between China, Russia and India still has large room to maneuver, and India should find a balance in its &quot;vacillating diplomacy&quot;. 
&nbsp;

China's Global Times said the "trilateral mechanism will be jeopardized without bilateral conflicts being addressed."

Even as the trilateral meeting between India, China and Russia kicked off in Delhi on Monday, China's right-leaning Global Times said bilateral conflicts should not be dragged into it, otherwise, the "trilateral mechanism will be jeopardized without bilateral conflicts being addressed." The daily said the meeting between foreign ministers and "the leaders of the three only meet with each other on international occasions, adding, "this indicates it does not have high status in diplomacy and cannot bear more functions." "India has benefited a great deal from the meeting," the newspaper said. "As China, Russia and India are all BRICS nations, and India participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the trilateral summit indeed has raised the status of India in these two organizations," it said. The newspaper said while India is engaged in this trilateral meeting, it is also holding "ministerial-level trilateral dialogue" with the US and Japan. "India's recent tilt to the US has triggered doubts from China and Russia, and it may have a negative effect on the support that China and Russia could offer India," the newspaper observed. The newspaper said the "negative effect" was the Russia's "change in attitude" over military cooperation with Pakistan. "As the US under former president Barack Obama dragged India into its rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, but excluded it from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it showed the US supported India just out of its own interests, but not India's," the newspaper said, concluding,"the cooperation between China, Russia and India still has large room to maneuver, and India should find a balance in its "vacillating diplomacy".

India, China, Russia trilateral meeting does not have high status in diplomacy: China daily

Maldives President Abdulla <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/eye-on-obor-after-beidou-satellite-launch-china-aims-to-build-own-global-positioning-system-23603">Yameen Abdul Gayoom met Chinese President Xi </a>Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing today and pledged to support China&#39;s One Belt, One Road initiative(OBOR).

During the meeting, the Chinese premier told President Gayoom that Maldives is an &quot;important partner&quot; in the construction of the 21st century maritime Silk Road, Reuters reported.

&quot;Belt and Road Initiative squares with the development strategies of the Maldives,&quot; Xi told Gayoom.

Xi said he hoped the Maldives would continue to support China&#39;s cooperation with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

&quot;The Belt and Road initiative has greatly helped the development of many small and medium countries,&quot; Gayoom told Xi, Reuters said.

The OBOR project is President Xi&#39;s key foreign policy agenda which is now enshrined in the Chinese constitution.

China aims to build road and railway network across Asia connecting Europe and Africa to boost trade, hoping for reciprocal cooperation by participating countries.

Gayoom is the first Asian leader to visit China since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October which re-elected Xi as the general secretary of CPC Central Committee.

The two presidents signed twelve agreements including a memorandum of understanding(MoU) on OBOR and a free trade agreement.

China has signed several agreements with Pakistan on OBOR. The Chinese authorities are also keen to get Nepal and Myanmar to sign-up to the OBOR project.

Chinese premier told President Gayoom that Maldives is an "important partner" in the construction of the 21st century maritime Silk Road

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing today and pledged to support China's One Belt, One Road initiative(OBOR). During the meeting, the Chinese premier told President Gayoom that Maldives is an "important partner" in the construction of the 21st century maritime Silk Road, Reuters reported. "Belt and Road Initiative squares with the development strategies of the Maldives," Xi told Gayoom. Xi said he hoped the Maldives would continue to support China's cooperation with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. "The Belt and Road initiative has greatly helped the development of many small and medium countries," Gayoom told Xi, Reuters said. The OBOR project is President Xi's key foreign policy agenda which is now enshrined in the Chinese constitution. China aims to build road and railway network across Asia connecting Europe and Africa to boost trade, hoping for reciprocal cooperation by participating countries. Gayoom is the first Asian leader to visit China since the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October which re-elected Xi as the general secretary of CPC Central Committee. The two presidents signed twelve agreements including a memorandum of understanding(MoU) on OBOR and a free trade agreement. China has signed several agreements with Pakistan on OBOR. The Chinese authorities are also keen to get Nepal and Myanmar to sign-up to the OBOR project.

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen backs China's OBOR, signs MoU

China&#39;s right-leaning <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-can-play-constructive-role-in-resolving-kashmir-issue-says-state-run-global-times-21306">newspaper Global Times in its editorial </a>said Indo-Pacific strategy proposed by US President Donald Trump is designed to maintain US clout in the region.

The newspaper said: &quot;Historical disputes and conflicts of interest between China and India provide an opportune point for US strategic adjustment,&quot; adding 
&quot;India is a key pawn in the Indo-Pacific strategy.&quot;

The newspapers which often reports on strategic defense issues especially on issues related to South Asia, said Trump administration hopes India would&nbsp; 
ramp up efforts to &quot;restrain China&#39;s strategic maritime channels&quot; in the Indian Ocean and &quot;destroy China&#39;s strategic foothold&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Once the Indo-Pacific strategy is implemented, Washington and New Delhi will lift the status and role of military bases and facilities in the Indian Ocean&nbsp; 
and consequently, add security risks to China in the waters,&quot; the China daily said.

&quot;In addition, the Indo-Pacific strategy will pose a threat to the hard-won stability of the South China Sea, the situation there remains basically stable due&nbsp; 
to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries,&quot; it said.

The newspaper added that the Indo-Pacific strategy would &quot;hamper&quot; the One Belt and One Road initiative(OBOR) - a key foreign policy tool of President Xi, &quot;driving a wedge&nbsp;between China and Indian Ocean countries&quot;.

The newspaper said: &quot;US should realize that despite the Indo-Pacific strategy, it is unlikely to get what it failed to obtain with the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific.&quot;

The Global Times feared that Japan&#39;s &quot;go south&quot; policy and India&#39;s &quot;act east&quot; policy will complicate the South China Sea issue, concluding that&nbsp;only &quot;non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation can head toward a new model of major-country relationship.&quot;&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

China's right-leaning Global Times said the Trump administration hopes India would?ramp up efforts to "restrain China's strategic maritime channels".

China's right-leaning newspaper Global Times in its editorial said Indo-Pacific strategy proposed by US President Donald Trump is designed to maintain US clout in the region. The newspaper said: "Historical disputes and conflicts of interest between China and India provide an opportune point for US strategic adjustment," adding "India is a key pawn in the Indo-Pacific strategy." The newspapers which often reports on strategic defense issues especially on issues related to South Asia, said Trump administration hopes India would ramp up efforts to "restrain China's strategic maritime channels" in the Indian Ocean and "destroy China's strategic foothold". "Once the Indo-Pacific strategy is implemented, Washington and New Delhi will lift the status and role of military bases and facilities in the Indian Ocean and consequently, add security risks to China in the waters," the China daily said. "In addition, the Indo-Pacific strategy will pose a threat to the hard-won stability of the South China Sea, the situation there remains basically stable due to the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries," it said. The newspaper added that the Indo-Pacific strategy would "hamper" the One Belt and One Road initiative(OBOR) - a key foreign policy tool of President Xi, "driving a wedge between China and Indian Ocean countries". The newspaper said: "US should realize that despite the Indo-Pacific strategy, it is unlikely to get what it failed to obtain with the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific." The Global Times feared that Japan's "go south" policy and India's "act east" policy will complicate the South China Sea issue, concluding that only "non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation can head toward a new model of major-country relationship."

India key 'pawn' in Indo-Pacific strategy: China daily

China has &quot;temporarily&quot; <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/eye-on-obor-after-beidou-satellite-launch-china-aims-to-build-own-global-positioning-system-23603">stopped funding of some projects</a> in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan&#39;s daily newspaper Dawn&nbsp;reported on&nbsp;Tuesday.

The projects worth <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/all-countries-should-respect-each-others-sovereignty-chinas-xi-at-obor-15564">Rs 1 lakh crore has been stopped by China</a> till a further decision is made by Chinese authorities regarding &#39;new guidelines&#39;, the Dawn report said.

The projects include &nbsp;210-km Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob road, the Khuzdar-Basima road and the remaining portion of the 136-km&nbsp;Karakarom Highway which is worth Rs 8.5bn

Last month Pakistan had turned down China&#39;s offer of assistance on the Diamer-Bhasha dam after Beijing placed strict conditions including ownership of the project.

China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;Water and Power Development Authority.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on&nbsp;building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. &nbsp;

Dawn said Chinese authorities are disturbed with increasing news reports being published in Pakistan &quot;regarding corruption in CPEC projects.&quot;&nbsp;

The report also added that Pakistan authorities were &quot;stunned&quot; when they heard about China&#39;s decision to temporarily stop the project.

Although Pakistan authorities hope the Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on will finally get things going again but the &quot;new guidelines&quot;&nbsp;issue has Pakistan on tenterhooks.

In October, unidentified men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled grenades at a labourers&#39; hostel in Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port&nbsp;which is a key link for China&#39;s &quot;One Belt and One Road&quot; project.

However, no organization&nbsp;claimed responsibility for the attack.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city.

President Xi has made the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) the centrepiece of his foreign policy which is expected to boost China&#39;s economy and put China at the forefront&nbsp;of global trade.

The projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore has been stopped by China till a further decision is made by Chinese authorities regarding 'new guidelines'

China has "temporarily" stopped funding of some projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan's daily newspaper Dawn reported on Tuesday. The projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore has been stopped by China till a further decision is made by Chinese authorities regarding 'new guidelines', the Dawn report said. The projects include 210-km Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob road, the Khuzdar-Basima road and the remaining portion of the 136-km Karakarom Highway which is worth Rs 8.5bn Last month Pakistan had turned down China's offer of assistance on the Diamer-Bhasha dam after Beijing placed strict conditions including ownership of the project. China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. Dawn said Chinese authorities are disturbed with increasing news reports being published in Pakistan "regarding corruption in CPEC projects." The report also added that Pakistan authorities were "stunned" when they heard about China's decision to temporarily stop the project. Although Pakistan authorities hope the Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on will finally get things going again but the "new guidelines" issue has Pakistan on tenterhooks. In October, unidentified men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled grenades at a labourers' hostel in Pakistan's Gwadar port which is a key link for China's "One Belt and One Road" project. However, no organization claimed responsibility for the attack. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. President Xi has made the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) the centrepiece of his foreign policy which is expected to boost China's economy and put China at the forefront of global trade.

China temporarily stops funding some CPEC projects, Pak authorities 'stunned'

China has &quot;temporarily&quot; stopped funding of some projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan&#39;s daily newspaper Dawn&nbsp;reported on&nbsp;Tuesday.

The projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore has been stopped by China till a further decision is made by Chinese authorities regarding &#39;new guidelines&#39;, the Dawn report said.

The projects include &nbsp;210-km Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob road, the Khuzdar-Basima road and the remaining portion of the 136-km&nbsp;Karakarom Highway which is worth Rs 8.5bn

Last month Pakistan had turned down China&#39;s offer of assistance on the Diamer-Bhasha dam after Beijing placed strict conditions including ownership of the project.

China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;Water and Power Development Authority.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on&nbsp;building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. &nbsp;

Dawn said Chinese authorities are disturbed with increasing news reports being published in Pakistan &quot;regarding corruption in CPEC projects.&quot;&nbsp;The report also added that Pakistan authorities were &quot;stunned&quot; when they heard about China&#39;s decision to temporarily stop the project.

Although Pakistan authorities hope the Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on will finally get things going again but the &quot;new guidelines&quot;&nbsp;issue has Pakistan on tenterhooks.

In October, unidentified men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled grenades at a labourers&#39; hostel in Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port&nbsp;which is a key link for China&#39;s &quot;One Belt and One Road&quot; project. However, no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city.

President Xi has made the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) the centrepiece of his foreign policy which is expected to boost China&#39;s economy and put China at the forefront&nbsp;of global trade.

China has "temporarily" stopped funding of some projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Pakistan's daily newspaper Dawn reported on Tuesday. The projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore has been stopped by China till a further decision is made by Chinese authorities regarding 'new guidelines', the Dawn report said. The projects include 210-km Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob road, the Khuzdar-Basima road and the remaining portion of the 136-km Karakarom Highway which is worth Rs 8.5bn Last month Pakistan had turned down China's offer of assistance on the Diamer-Bhasha dam after Beijing placed strict conditions including ownership of the project. China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. Dawn said Chinese authorities are disturbed with increasing news reports being published in Pakistan "regarding corruption in CPEC projects." The report also added that Pakistan authorities were "stunned" when they heard about China's decision to temporarily stop the project. Although Pakistan authorities hope the Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on will finally get things going again but the "new guidelines" issue has Pakistan on tenterhooks. In October, unidentified men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled grenades at a labourers' hostel in Pakistan's Gwadar port which is a key link for China's "One Belt and One Road" project. However, no organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. President Xi has made the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) the centrepiece of his foreign policy which is expected to boost China's economy and put China at the forefront of global trade.

China temporarily stops funding of some CPEC projects, Pak authorities 'stunned'

On December 3, 2017, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the much-awaited Chabahar port. The inauguration follows the successful operationalisation of the port on October 29; which marked a major shift as to how Afghanistan trades with the world and vice versa.&nbsp;

India dispatched first of the six consignments of wheat (India&rsquo;s commitment to send 1.1 million tonnes of wheat) to Afghanistan via Chabahar, Iran bypassing Pakistan. Traditionally, Afghanistan due to its landlocked nature has been dependent upon Pakistan to receive international aid and conduct trade. With the opening of the route via Iran, Afghanistan&#39;s dependence on Pakistan will reduce significantly and it will get access to the seaport, increasing trade volume considerably.

The Chabahar, which is in Iran, is connected to Afghanistan via 635 km road connecting Chabahar to Zahedan and improved the 206 km to Zaranj on its side of the Iran-Afghan border. India as part of its Afghanistan development assistance initiative has constructed 218 km long Zaranj-Delaram highway in western Afghanistan that runs to the Iran border, thus providing much-required sea access.

The passage of India&#39;s first consignment of wheat through Iran&#39;s Chabahar port to Afghanistan recently is significant for several reasons. First, it helps in boosting trade ties between Afghanistan and India which have suffered due to transit issues for Indian goods via Pakistan. Afghanistan has the potential to become a major transit hub for Central Asian goods reaching South Asia and beyond via this port facility. The port access is also expected to encourage domestic trading communities in Afghanistan to utilise this facility.&nbsp;

Second, it alters regional geopolitical calibrations i.e. bringing Iran as a player in Afghanistan&#39;s reconstruction efforts as well as much needed developmental activity in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of southern Iran.&nbsp;

Third, for Iran, the operationalisation comes at a time when the US has been changing its stance on the nuclear deal. The port is also key to INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) which provides trade connectivity from Russia to the Persian Gulf via different trades routes.

India, Iran and Afghanistan may have overcome many challenges to make trade and transit through Chabahar port a reality. But challenges remain. First, the location of the port itself i.e. the port is located just 72km away from the Gwadar port of Pakistan which is part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Second, the US policy with respect to Iran is changing again, the recent decision by the US to decertify Iran as per the Iran Nuclear Deal or JCPOA has renewed fear of economic sanctions on Iran. However, the US Secretary of State Tillerson on his recent visit to India has assured the Indian government that Chabahar port will be out of the purview of any such decision of the US government.&nbsp;

But the impact of the sanctions on the associated economic activity will have an adverse impact on the economic viability of the port. Third, the port would need more than India-Afghan trade to stay afloat. Several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have expressed interest in the port facility and should be roped in. The materialisation of the INSTC will bring much-needed trade traffic to the port facility and provide access to the Central Asian, East European markets for East Asian economic powerhouses.

In addition, the poor security situation in the Sistan-Baluchistan province where Chabahar is located may raise some concerns as the province has the restive Sunni population in Shia-dominated Iran. The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, too, could undermine the region&#39;s capacity to tap Chabahar&#39;s full potential.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

With the opening of the route via Iran, Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan will reduce significantly and it will get access to the seaport, increasing trade volume considerably.

On December 3, 2017, President of Iran Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the much-awaited Chabahar port. The inauguration follows the successful operationalisation of the port on October 29; which marked a major shift as to how Afghanistan trades with the world and vice versa. India dispatched first of the six consignments of wheat (India’s commitment to send 1.1 million tonnes of wheat) to Afghanistan via Chabahar, Iran bypassing Pakistan. Traditionally, Afghanistan due to its landlocked nature has been dependent upon Pakistan to receive international aid and conduct trade. With the opening of the route via Iran, Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan will reduce significantly and it will get access to the seaport, increasing trade volume considerably. The Chabahar, which is in Iran, is connected to Afghanistan via 635 km road connecting Chabahar to Zahedan and improved the 206 km to Zaranj on its side of the Iran-Afghan border. India as part of its Afghanistan development assistance initiative has constructed 218 km long Zaranj-Delaram highway in western Afghanistan that runs to the Iran border, thus providing much-required sea access. The passage of India's first consignment of wheat through Iran's Chabahar port to Afghanistan recently is significant for several reasons. First, it helps in boosting trade ties between Afghanistan and India which have suffered due to transit issues for Indian goods via Pakistan. Afghanistan has the potential to become a major transit hub for Central Asian goods reaching South Asia and beyond via this port facility. The port access is also expected to encourage domestic trading communities in Afghanistan to utilise this facility. Second, it alters regional geopolitical calibrations i.e. bringing Iran as a player in Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts as well as much needed developmental activity in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of southern Iran. Third, for Iran, the operationalisation comes at a time when the US has been changing its stance on the nuclear deal. The port is also key to INSTC (International North-South Transport Corridor) which provides trade connectivity from Russia to the Persian Gulf via different trades routes. India, Iran and Afghanistan may have overcome many challenges to make trade and transit through Chabahar port a reality. But challenges remain. First, the location of the port itself i.e. the port is located just 72km away from the Gwadar port of Pakistan which is part of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Second, the US policy with respect to Iran is changing again, the recent decision by the US to decertify Iran as per the Iran Nuclear Deal or JCPOA has renewed fear of economic sanctions on Iran. However, the US Secretary of State Tillerson on his recent visit to India has assured the Indian government that Chabahar port will be out of the purview of any such decision of the US government. But the impact of the sanctions on the associated economic activity will have an adverse impact on the economic viability of the port. Third, the port would need more than India-Afghan trade to stay afloat. Several countries, including Japan and South Korea, have expressed interest in the port facility and should be roped in. The materialisation of the INSTC will bring much-needed trade traffic to the port facility and provide access to the Central Asian, East European markets for East Asian economic powerhouses. In addition, the poor security situation in the Sistan-Baluchistan province where Chabahar is located may raise some concerns as the province has the restive Sunni population in Shia-dominated Iran. The deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, too, could undermine the region's capacity to tap Chabahar's full potential. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: With Chabahar India gains upper hand over Pakistan

Atlantic Council, a US-based think tank specialising on South Asia in a paper presented recently <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-to-build-new-nuclear-reactor-in-pakistan-report-25055">said China is now &quot;India&#39;s primary source</a> of strategic&nbsp;envy&quot;, stating that India does not believe that China poses a &quot;compelling threat&quot; to its security.

The think tank in its article said<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-envoy-offers-china-mum-on-whether-itll-rename-cpec-24973"> India has steadily diluted its commitment </a>to an &quot;unambiguous nuclear first use(NFU) policy&nbsp;over the last fourteen years.&quot;

The article under the header: Asia in the &quot;second nuclear age&quot; wrote, &quot;in 2003, for example, an Indian government document listed an adversary&rsquo;s use of chemical or biological weapons as a triggering condition for the potential first use of nuclear weapons,&quot; adding,&quot;the issue of whether India has privately abandoned NFU, or will do so soon, is an unknown for even better-informed observers in New Delhi.&quot;

The think tank said senior Indian national security officials also indicate that India is &quot;rethinking its limited-conventional-war strategy against Pakistan&quot;.

&quot;In the case of ballistic missiles, warheads will very likely be mated to the missiles during emergency flushing-out routines,&quot; the think tank concluded. &nbsp;

The Atlantic Council said China is the only &quot;nuclear power among the three which is actually modernizing&quot;&nbsp;replacing ageing delivery systems with newer and better designs.&nbsp;

The think tank said neither India nor Pakistan are conducting nuclear tests to develop or improve designs for nuclear warheads. The same holds for China.

However, the think tank cautioned that Pakistan is rapidly &quot;accumulating fissile material, which could increase to four hundred and fifty kilograms of&nbsp;plutonium, sufficient for ninety weapons, and more than 2,500 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU), sufficient for one hundred simple&nbsp;fission warheads by 2020.&quot;

The nuclear rivalry in South Asia remains ominous, because Pakistan wages LIC against India via non-state actors, while India has devised &quot;limited conventional-war options&quot; to punish the Pakistani military on Pakistani soil, the think tank observed.

The big difference between the &quot;first and second nuclear ages&quot; is the domestic stability of the nuclear-weapon powers, it said.&nbsp;

&quot;In Asia&nbsp;- China and India represent this continuity of strong state institutions, as well as checks and balances on the military.&quot;&nbsp;

The Atlantic Council said Pakistan remains &quot;internally unstable, and increasingly unable to rein in &#39;praetorianism&#39;&nbsp;over national security and&nbsp;nuclear policy.&quot;

The think tank in its article said India has steadily diluted its commitment to an "unambiguous Nuclear first use(NFU) policy"?over the last fourteen years.

Atlantic Council, a US-based think tank specialising on South Asia in a paper presented recently said China is now "India's primary source of strategic envy", stating that India does not believe that China poses a "compelling threat" to its security. The think tank in its article said India has steadily diluted its commitment to an "unambiguous nuclear first use(NFU) policy over the last fourteen years." The article under the header: Asia in the "second nuclear age" wrote, "in 2003, for example, an Indian government document listed an adversary’s use of chemical or biological weapons as a triggering condition for the potential first use of nuclear weapons," adding,"the issue of whether India has privately abandoned NFU, or will do so soon, is an unknown for even better-informed observers in New Delhi." The think tank said senior Indian national security officials also indicate that India is "rethinking its limited-conventional-war strategy against Pakistan". "In the case of ballistic missiles, warheads will very likely be mated to the missiles during emergency flushing-out routines," the think tank concluded. The Atlantic Council said China is the only "nuclear power among the three which is actually modernizing" replacing ageing delivery systems with newer and better designs. The think tank said neither India nor Pakistan are conducting nuclear tests to develop or improve designs for nuclear warheads. The same holds for China. However, the think tank cautioned that Pakistan is rapidly "accumulating fissile material, which could increase to four hundred and fifty kilograms of plutonium, sufficient for ninety weapons, and more than 2,500 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU), sufficient for one hundred simple fission warheads by 2020." The nuclear rivalry in South Asia remains ominous, because Pakistan wages LIC against India via non-state actors, while India has devised "limited conventional-war options" to punish the Pakistani military on Pakistani soil, the think tank observed. The big difference between the "first and second nuclear ages" is the domestic stability of the nuclear-weapon powers, it said. "In Asia - China and India represent this continuity of strong state institutions, as well as checks and balances on the military." The Atlantic Council said Pakistan remains "internally unstable, and increasingly unable to rein in 'praetorianism' over national security and nuclear policy."

China is now India's primary source of 'strategic?envy', says US think tank

China National Nuclear <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/be-good-audience-china-state-media-says-after-india-skips-obor-15593">Corporation (CNNC) and the Pakistan</a> Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) have signed an agreement to construct a nuclear reactor in Punjab province.

World Nuclear News which is supported by industry lobby World Nuclear Association said<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-aims-global-salience-in-invoking-the-great-silk-road-through-obor-15881"> CNNC will build a &quot;one-million-kilowatt-class</a> nuclear power unit with HPR1000 technology&quot; at the Chashma nuclear power plant in Pakistan.

The nuclear reactor will be the seventh nuclear power unit that China will be exporting to Pakistan and the third HPR1000, World Nuclear News said.

The Chinese-designed HPR1000 Hualong One reactor design is under construction in China, at Fuqing units 5 and 6 and Fangchenggang units 3 and 4, the nuclear news site reported, adding,&quot;the first Hualong One unit, Fuqing 5, is expected to start in 2019, with Fangchenggang 3 to follow the same year, and the other two units in 2020.&quot;

World Nuclear News said Chashma nuclear plant already has &quot;four Chinese-built CNP-300 units&quot;, while &quot;two HPR1000 units are under construction at Pakistan&#39;s Karachi nuclear power plant.&quot;

The HPR1000 is set to be constructed at Bradwell in England, the nuclear news site said. Britain&#39;s nuclear regulator is conducting a Generic Design Assessment, which is expected to take about five years, Reuters reported.

PAEC chairman Muhammad Naeem had told Reuters PAEC was in the final stages of awarding contracts for Chasmah, which would take Pakistan&#39;s nuclear capacity to about 5,000 MW when it is finished.&nbsp;

Naeem said Pakistan wanted to build at least 3-4 more big nuclear reactors by 2030.

China and Pakistan have already inked six pacts worth $50 billion to secure China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city.

The pacts deal with the increasing bilateral cooperation within the framework of China&#39;s ambitious One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative.

China is also set to upgrade the main railway track between Karachi and Peshawar - referred to as ML-1 or Main Line-1.

China and Pakistan have also signed an MoU to establish a dry port in Havelian&nbsp;in Abbottabad district.

The nuclear reactor will be the seventh nuclear power unit that China will exporting to Pakistan and the third HPR1000, World Nuclear News said.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) have signed an agreement to construct a nuclear reactor in Punjab province. World Nuclear News which is supported by industry lobby World Nuclear Association said CNNC will build a "one-million-kilowatt-class nuclear power unit with HPR1000 technology" at the Chashma nuclear power plant in Pakistan. The nuclear reactor will be the seventh nuclear power unit that China will be exporting to Pakistan and the third HPR1000, World Nuclear News said. The Chinese-designed HPR1000 Hualong One reactor design is under construction in China, at Fuqing units 5 and 6 and Fangchenggang units 3 and 4, the nuclear news site reported, adding,"the first Hualong One unit, Fuqing 5, is expected to start in 2019, with Fangchenggang 3 to follow the same year, and the other two units in 2020." World Nuclear News said Chashma nuclear plant already has "four Chinese-built CNP-300 units", while "two HPR1000 units are under construction at Pakistan's Karachi nuclear power plant." The HPR1000 is set to be constructed at Bradwell in England, the nuclear news site said. Britain's nuclear regulator is conducting a Generic Design Assessment, which is expected to take about five years, Reuters reported. PAEC chairman Muhammad Naeem had told Reuters PAEC was in the final stages of awarding contracts for Chasmah, which would take Pakistan's nuclear capacity to about 5,000 MW when it is finished. Naeem said Pakistan wanted to build at least 3-4 more big nuclear reactors by 2030. China and Pakistan have already inked six pacts worth $50 billion to secure China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. The pacts deal with the increasing bilateral cooperation within the framework of China's ambitious One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative. China is also set to upgrade the main railway track between Karachi and Peshawar - referred to as ML-1 or Main Line-1. China and Pakistan have also signed an MoU to establish a dry port in Havelian in Abbottabad district.

China to build new nuclear reactor in Pakistan: Report

China today skirted a direct response to the reported proposal by its envoy to India to rename the CPEC to address New Delhi&#39;s concerns and said the project does not affect China and Pakistan&#39;s position on the Kashmir issue.

China&#39;s ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui during an interaction with experts on Chinese affairs and students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) last week offered to rename the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as build an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir.

India has raised concerns over the project as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking southern Pakistan, and the Gwadar Port, to China&#39;s restive Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry responding to media queries about Luo&#39;s remarks said: &quot;The China-Pakistan economic corridor is a framework for cooperation focusing on the long- term development of cooperation in all fields.&quot;

The project is not only in the interests of both China and Pakistan but also also conducive to promoting regional stability and development, it said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China&#39;s stand is that the CPEC is an economic cooperation initiative and has &quot;nothing to do with territorial sovereignty disputes&quot;.

The CPEC &quot;does not affect China and Pakistan&#39;s position on the Kashmir issue,&quot; it said.

Previously China had stated that the project would not change its stand on Kashmir. This time China also referred to Pakistan&#39;s stand too.

China&#39;s stand on the Kashmir issue is that it should be resolved between India and Pakistan through negotiations.

On Lu&#39;s reported remark about building an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir, the foreign ministry said, &quot;China is ready to strengthen connectivity with all neighbouring countries and promote regional economic cooperation and common prosperity&quot;.

This is not the first time that Lu has offered to rename the corridor. In his address to the United Services Institution in New Delhi on May 5, he had echoed similar views.

His remarks were, however, subsequently removed from the transcript of his address posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy amid reports that Pakistan sought a clarification on it.

Chinese officials, here, however in their off the record conversations suggested that it was perhaps Luo&#39;s personal initiative to address India&#39;s concerns over the CPEC.&nbsp;

China's ambassador to India had last week offered to rename the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and build an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir

China today skirted a direct response to the reported proposal by its envoy to India to rename the CPEC to address New Delhi's concerns and said the project does not affect China and Pakistan's position on the Kashmir issue. China's ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui during an interaction with experts on Chinese affairs and students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) last week offered to rename the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as build an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir. India has raised concerns over the project as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking southern Pakistan, and the Gwadar Port, to China's restive Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responding to media queries about Luo's remarks said: "The China-Pakistan economic corridor is a framework for cooperation focusing on the long- term development of cooperation in all fields." The project is not only in the interests of both China and Pakistan but also also conducive to promoting regional stability and development, it said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China's stand is that the CPEC is an economic cooperation initiative and has "nothing to do with territorial sovereignty disputes". The CPEC "does not affect China and Pakistan's position on the Kashmir issue," it said. Previously China had stated that the project would not change its stand on Kashmir. This time China also referred to Pakistan's stand too. China's stand on the Kashmir issue is that it should be resolved between India and Pakistan through negotiations. On Lu's reported remark about building an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir, the foreign ministry said, "China is ready to strengthen connectivity with all neighbouring countries and promote regional economic cooperation and common prosperity". This is not the first time that Lu has offered to rename the corridor. In his address to the United Services Institution in New Delhi on May 5, he had echoed similar views. His remarks were, however, subsequently removed from the transcript of his address posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy amid reports that Pakistan sought a clarification on it. Chinese officials, here, however in their off the record conversations suggested that it was perhaps Luo's personal initiative to address India's concerns over the CPEC.

After envoy offers, China mum on whether it'll rename CPEC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only world statesman to have stood up to China&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/india-welcome-to-join-belt-and-road-initiative-says-china-22994">Belt and Road Initiative</a>, also known as One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR), even though the US has been silent on the ambitious project till recently, a top American expert on China said on Friday.

During a Congressional hearing, Michael Pillsbury, Director of Center on Chinese Strategy at the prestigious think-tank Hudson Institute, told lawmakers that Modi and his team have been quite outspoken against Chinese President Xi Jinping&#39;s ambitious project.

&quot;The only statesman in the world who stood up to it yet, is Prime Minister Modi. He and his team have been quite outspoken, partly because the Belt and Road Initiative includes violation of Indian sovereign claims, Pillsbury said.

&quot;But the US government, until now and this is a five- year-old initiative if you count the early part of it, has been silent, he said.

Praising the Trump administration for its new Indo- Pacific strategy, the former Pentagon official said in recent days people have heard more than 50 times by members of the Trump administration including the president himself mentioning &quot;free and open&quot; Indo-Pacific region.

&quot;The Chinese have already attacked this. They don&#39;t like it, said Pillsbury, who is considered an authority on China- related issues.

&quot;The Indians, fairly recently, were joking about we want to make the Indian Ocean the Indian Ocean, by which they meant the purchase of several billion dollars worth of American PA aircraft, which have weapon systems in the back that can sink ships, frankly, and other improvements including maritime situational awareness and a big new center in Delhi where the Indians can keep track of both blue holes and grey holes going through the Indian Ocean, he said.

&quot;Chinese are very angry about this. They have criticised the Obama administration for its effort to, as they say, boost India, to a higher rank order in comprehensive power than the Chinese believe India deserves, the top American expert on China said in response to a question.

Senator Ed Markey said China&#39;s signature Belt and Road Initiative that aims to position China as the uncontested leading power in Asia &quot;may further coerce&quot; its neighbours through loans they cannot repay.

The BRI aimed at building a vast network of infrastructure projects expanding China&#39;s expertise and capital to different parts of the world includes US $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) over which India has protested as it traversed through Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

India boycotted the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) organised by China in May this year to highlight its concerns over Beijing pushing projects through the the PoK.

He said the US companies face the threat of intellectual property theft with reports that China has been stealing cutting-edge research as well as sensitive trade secrets from the US.

And that includes companies working in the clean energy sector who cannot compete with state-backed firms, he alleged.

Pillsbury said Chinese are offering low interest loans to countries that cannot afford it.

&quot;We&#39;re already saw the example of Sri Lanka, which fell behind in its payments and then was the subject of coercion that if you transfer the main port here in Sri Lanka to Chinese control, we will forgive the debt. The Sri Lankans did it, he said.

There were concerns of debt burden brought in by the BRI projects after Sri Lanka opted for long-term lease of its Hambantota port for US $1.12 billion debt swap.

&quot;...So we are beginning to see, just through the media, what the Belt and Road Initiative may mean, Pillsbury told the lawmakers.

Senator Markey said China is challenging the very underpinnings of the global order that has brought peace and prosperity.

China has not lived up to its international obligations to help denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, he said.

&quot;No country has greater leverage than China, which is responsible for approximately 90 per cent of North Korean trade,&quot; he noted.

Markey said, &quot;China is challenging the international system elsewhere as well. It has constructed in violation of international law, military bases on artificial islands and disputed areas of the South China Sea.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;Through economic coercion, Beijing undermined the sovereignty of its smaller neighbours and countries including South Korea and the Philippines face Chinese retaliation for taking legal and sovereign actions in their own defence,&quot; he said.

Michael Pillsbury, Director of Center on Chinese Strategy at the prestigious think-tank Hudson Institute, said that Modi and his team have been quite outspoken against Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only world statesman to have stood up to China's Belt and Road Initiative, also known as One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR), even though the US has been silent on the ambitious project till recently, a top American expert on China said on Friday. During a Congressional hearing, Michael Pillsbury, Director of Center on Chinese Strategy at the prestigious think-tank Hudson Institute, told lawmakers that Modi and his team have been quite outspoken against Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project. "The only statesman in the world who stood up to it yet, is Prime Minister Modi. He and his team have been quite outspoken, partly because the Belt and Road Initiative includes violation of Indian sovereign claims, Pillsbury said. "But the US government, until now and this is a five- year-old initiative if you count the early part of it, has been silent, he said. Praising the Trump administration for its new Indo- Pacific strategy, the former Pentagon official said in recent days people have heard more than 50 times by members of the Trump administration including the president himself mentioning "free and open" Indo-Pacific region. "The Chinese have already attacked this. They don't like it, said Pillsbury, who is considered an authority on China- related issues. "The Indians, fairly recently, were joking about we want to make the Indian Ocean the Indian Ocean, by which they meant the purchase of several billion dollars worth of American PA aircraft, which have weapon systems in the back that can sink ships, frankly, and other improvements including maritime situational awareness and a big new center in Delhi where the Indians can keep track of both blue holes and grey holes going through the Indian Ocean, he said. "Chinese are very angry about this. They have criticised the Obama administration for its effort to, as they say, boost India, to a higher rank order in comprehensive power than the Chinese believe India deserves, the top American expert on China said in response to a question. Senator Ed Markey said China's signature Belt and Road Initiative that aims to position China as the uncontested leading power in Asia "may further coerce" its neighbours through loans they cannot repay. The BRI aimed at building a vast network of infrastructure projects expanding China's expertise and capital to different parts of the world includes US $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) over which India has protested as it traversed through Pakistan- occupied-Kashmir (PoK). India boycotted the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) organised by China in May this year to highlight its concerns over Beijing pushing projects through the the PoK. He said the US companies face the threat of intellectual property theft with reports that China has been stealing cutting-edge research as well as sensitive trade secrets from the US. And that includes companies working in the clean energy sector who cannot compete with state-backed firms, he alleged. Pillsbury said Chinese are offering low interest loans to countries that cannot afford it. "We're already saw the example of Sri Lanka, which fell behind in its payments and then was the subject of coercion that if you transfer the main port here in Sri Lanka to Chinese control, we will forgive the debt. The Sri Lankans did it, he said. There were concerns of debt burden brought in by the BRI projects after Sri Lanka opted for long-term lease of its Hambantota port for US $1.12 billion debt swap. "...So we are beginning to see, just through the media, what the Belt and Road Initiative may mean, Pillsbury told the lawmakers. Senator Markey said China is challenging the very underpinnings of the global order that has brought peace and prosperity. China has not lived up to its international obligations to help denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, he said. "No country has greater leverage than China, which is responsible for approximately 90 per cent of North Korean trade," he noted. Markey said, "China is challenging the international system elsewhere as well. It has constructed in violation of international law, military bases on artificial islands and disputed areas of the South China Sea." "Through economic coercion, Beijing undermined the sovereignty of its smaller neighbours and countries including South Korea and the Philippines face Chinese retaliation for taking legal and sovereign actions in their own defence," he said.

Narendra Modi only world statesman to stand up to China on OBOR: US expert

Pakistan has turned down<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-pakistan-ink-6-pacts-ahead-of-obor-summit-xi-says-ties-priority-15550"> China&#39;s offer of assistance on the Diamer-Bhasha dam </a>after Beijing placed strict conditions including ownership of the project, a leading Pakistan daily reported.

&ldquo;Chinese conditions for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/all-countries-should-respect-each-others-sovereignty-chinas-xi-at-obor-15564">financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable</a> and against our interests,&rdquo; Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain told reporters.

China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the&nbsp;China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan. China was&nbsp;reportedly ready to fund the $14 billion project.

The minister said the Chinese conditions were about &quot;taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project&quot;, while adding China pledged another operational dam, Pakistan&#39;s Express Tribune reported.

&quot;These conditions were unacceptable,&quot; the minister said.

Pakistan has been facing problems financing the Diamer-Bhasha dam after protests from India and refusal by World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund its construction. Pakistan had decided to build a reservoir instead but it has run into delays, reports said.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city.

In May, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif had&nbsp;attended a presentation made by China&#39;s National Energy Administration (NEA) on the construction of Bhasha Dam, a project which he said is of critical importance for the future of Pakistan.

Pakistani media reported that Chinese companies had &quot;conducted survey and studies&quot;&nbsp;on the North Indus Cascade project.

The report said China&#39;s interest in providing $50 billion to fund the project could generate 40,000 MW hydroelectricity which the country desperately needs due to its depleting water resources.

China&#39;s ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative(OBOR) seeks to link road and waterways throughout Asia spanning east and west, with Pakistan being the pivotal point of trade.

China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the?China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan.

Pakistan has turned down China's offer of assistance on the Diamer-Bhasha dam after Beijing placed strict conditions including ownership of the project, a leading Pakistan daily reported. “Chinese conditions for financing the Diamer-Bhasha Dam were not doable and against our interests,” Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain told reporters. China tried to push the Diamer-Bhasha dam under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework but it was rejected by Pakistan. China was reportedly ready to fund the $14 billion project. The minister said the Chinese conditions were about "taking ownership of the project, operation and maintenance cost and securitisation of the Diamer-Bhasha project", while adding China pledged another operational dam, Pakistan's Express Tribune reported. "These conditions were unacceptable," the minister said. Pakistan has been facing problems financing the Diamer-Bhasha dam after protests from India and refusal by World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund its construction. Pakistan had decided to build a reservoir instead but it has run into delays, reports said. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. In May, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif had attended a presentation made by China's National Energy Administration (NEA) on the construction of Bhasha Dam, a project which he said is of critical importance for the future of Pakistan. Pakistani media reported that Chinese companies had "conducted survey and studies" on the North Indus Cascade project. The report said China's interest in providing $50 billion to fund the project could generate 40,000 MW hydroelectricity which the country desperately needs due to its depleting water resources. China's ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative(OBOR) seeks to link road and waterways throughout Asia spanning east and west, with Pakistan being the pivotal point of trade.

Pakistan turns down China's bid to include Diamer-Bhasha dam in CPEC

China today signed a deal to buy 300 Boeing airplanes even as President Trump pointed at &quot;one-sided and unfair&quot; US trade deficit with Beijing.

During the&nbsp;signing of the multi-billion dollar US-China Boeing deal, Trump said: After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?&quot; adding, &quot;this out-of-control trade deficit to take place and to grow&quot;.

&quot;I don&#39;t blame China,&quot; Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping.

&quot;We have to fix this because it just doesn&#39;t work, for our great American companies, and it doesn&rsquo;t work for our great American workers,&quot; Trump added.

America&#39;s Boing and European company Airbus have been competing hard for several years to corner the Chinese market which has grown exponentially.

According to the data by Civil Aviation Administration of China, 487 million the number of domestic and international journeys made last year in China.

The surge in air traffic has been fueled by a growing middle class in China with analysts predicting China will surpass the US &nbsp;as the world&#39;s largest commercial aviation market by 2030.&nbsp;

During the meeting with Trump, Xi said: &quot;I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road.&quot;

&quot;To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider,&quot; the Chinese president added.

America's Boing and European company Airbus have been competing hard for several years to corner the Chinese market

China today signed a deal to buy 300 Boeing airplanes even as President Trump pointed at "one-sided and unfair" US trade deficit with Beijing. During the signing of the multi-billion dollar US-China Boeing deal, Trump said: After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country for the sake of its citizens?" adding, "this out-of-control trade deficit to take place and to grow". "I don't blame China," Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping. "We have to fix this because it just doesn't work, for our great American companies, and it doesn’t work for our great American workers," Trump added. America's Boing and European company Airbus have been competing hard for several years to corner the Chinese market which has grown exponentially. According to the data by Civil Aviation Administration of China, 487 million the number of domestic and international journeys made last year in China. The surge in air traffic has been fueled by a growing middle class in China with analysts predicting China will surpass the US as the world's largest commercial aviation market by 2030. During the meeting with Trump, Xi said: "I will encourage Chinese businesses to do more investment in US and at the same time, invite more US companies to take part in One Belt One Road." "To keep opening up is our long-term strategy. We will not narrow or close our doors. We will open wider and wider," the Chinese president added.

As US trade deficit grows, Trump says 'I don't blame China'

China&#39;s right-leaning<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lanka-limits-chinas-role-in-hambantota-ports-deal-after-domestic-and-international-concerns-18277"> newspaper today raked up the Hambantota airport issue </a>in Sri Lanka, also known as &quot;emptiest airport in the world&quot;, asserting that it &quot;will not be easy for India to bring the airport to life&quot; and then use it to &quot;create jobs&quot;.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nothing-against-india-says-namal-rajapaksa-22605">Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala </a>near Hambantota opened in 2013 has become a bone of contention in Sri Lankan domestic politics.

Recently, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa&#39;s son Namal Rajapaksa demonstrated outside the Indian Consulate in Sri Lanka. In an exclusive interview to WION, Namal Rajapaksa had said that the government wanted India to build the Hambantota airport and the seaport nearby to China in order to &quot;balance India&quot; and keep regional &quot;geopolitical&quot; interests at bay.

China has been openly lobbying support for its OBOR project, it has already bagged rights to build &#39;Colombo Port City&#39; in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital in a deal worth $1.4 billion.

The Colombo Port City is the largest project between China and Sri Lanka under the China- proposed Belt and Road Initiative. China has invested millions of dollars in Sri Lanka&#39;s infrastructure.

&quot;A quick deal to buy an existing airport, instead of focusing on greenfield manufacturing investment that can generate sustained income, is a shortcut to increasing New Delhi&#39;s presence in Sri Lanka to counter China&#39;s influence,&quot; the Global Times said.

&quot;In addition to the Hambantota Port, China is setting up an industrial zone in Hambantota, which will likely transform the area into an important trading and logistics hub and attract massive investment,&quot; the newspaper said.

&quot;Both China and India have been stepping up infrastructure investment in Sri Lanka. Now it&#39;s time to consider how to expand the investment scope to energize the local economy in Sri Lanka,&quot; it said.

&quot;India and China must work together to tap the potential of manufacturing cooperation and establish sustainable relations with the island country,&quot; the newspaper concluded. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala near Hambantota opened in 2013 has become a bone of contention in Sri Lankan domestic politics.

China's right-leaning newspaper today raked up the Hambantota airport issue in Sri Lanka, also known as "emptiest airport in the world", asserting that it "will not be easy for India to bring the airport to life" and then use it to "create jobs". The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Mattala near Hambantota opened in 2013 has become a bone of contention in Sri Lankan domestic politics. Recently, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Namal Rajapaksa demonstrated outside the Indian Consulate in Sri Lanka. In an exclusive interview to WION, Namal Rajapaksa had said that the government wanted India to build the Hambantota airport and the seaport nearby to China in order to "balance India" and keep regional "geopolitical" interests at bay. China has been openly lobbying support for its OBOR project, it has already bagged rights to build 'Colombo Port City' in the heart of the Sri Lankan capital in a deal worth $1.4 billion. The Colombo Port City is the largest project between China and Sri Lanka under the China- proposed Belt and Road Initiative. China has invested millions of dollars in Sri Lanka's infrastructure. "A quick deal to buy an existing airport, instead of focusing on greenfield manufacturing investment that can generate sustained income, is a shortcut to increasing New Delhi's presence in Sri Lanka to counter China's influence," the Global Times said. "In addition to the Hambantota Port, China is setting up an industrial zone in Hambantota, which will likely transform the area into an important trading and logistics hub and attract massive investment," the newspaper said. "Both China and India have been stepping up infrastructure investment in Sri Lanka. Now it's time to consider how to expand the investment scope to energize the local economy in Sri Lanka," it said. "India and China must work together to tap the potential of manufacturing cooperation and establish sustainable relations with the island country," the newspaper concluded.

Won't be easy for India to bring Sri Lanka's Hambantota airport to life: China daily

In a bid to win the competition in<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/be-good-audience-china-state-media-says-after-india-skips-obor-15593"> satellite communication, China plans to build global positioning</a> and navigation system in the next three years to join the big two - US and Russia- as the war in space technology hots up around the world.

China had launched the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-skips-chinas-obor-summit-over-sovereignty-concerns-15556">two BeiDou satellites officially called &nbsp;BeiDou Navigation Satellite </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-skips-chinas-obor-summit-over-sovereignty-concerns-15556">system</a>(BDS) into space on Sunday to increase its global footprint.&nbsp;

According to China&#39;s Global Times, the satellites were aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket which took off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

The BeiDou satellites named after Chinese term for the plough or the Big Dipper constellation was started in 1994.

&quot;China plans to build BeiDou into a global positioning and navigation system by around 2020, making it the third country in the world after the United States and Russia to operate its own navigation system,&quot; China&#39;s Global Times said.

&quot;New technology has significantly improved the performance of the BeiDou-3, with the signal accuracy in space higher than half a meter while its positioning accuracy has reached 2.5 to five meters,&quot; the Global Times quoted Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system as saying.&nbsp;

China hopes the BeiDou satellite will prove to be a game-changer by expanding its footprints to countries along the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) route. Pakistan is set to be the biggest bineficiary of the project as it is a key ally of China over the OBOR project.

&quot;The BeiDou-2 is strategically the second step. Its positioning accuracy in regional wide was higher than 10 meters. The BeiDou-3 is scheduled to offer service to countries along the Belt and Road routes in 2018 and will go global in 2020,&quot; Deputy chief designer of the BeiDou-3 Project Xie Jun told Reuters. 
&nbsp; 
By around 2020, when the system goes global, it will have more than 30 satellites,&quot; the Global Times said.

The third generation BeiDou-3 satellites developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has so far combined with various technologies such as big data, Internet of Things and telecommunications to provide richer comprehensive services, Reuters reported.

&quot;BeiDou-1 actually achieved providing positioning service to users on the ground or at low altitudes through satellites, which marked a milestone for China, &quot; Xie Jun told Reuters.

&quot;The satellite navigation system is actually a kind of space infrastructure. It is very important to traffic, power and statistics of cash flow among banks. These are lifelines to the nation. If we rely on foreign countries for these critical lifeline systems, strategically it is very dangerous to the national security,&quot; he said.

&quot;Our country must build its own self-developed BDS that can run independently,&quot; Xie asserted.

The BeiDou satellites named after Chinese term for the plough or the Big Dipper constellation was started in 1994.

In a bid to win the competition in satellite communication, China plans to build global positioning and navigation system in the next three years to join the big two - US and Russia- as the war in space technology hots up around the world. China had launched the two BeiDou satellites officially called BeiDou Navigation Satellite system(BDS) into space on Sunday to increase its global footprint. According to China's Global Times, the satellites were aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket which took off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan. The BeiDou satellites named after Chinese term for the plough or the Big Dipper constellation was started in 1994. "China plans to build BeiDou into a global positioning and navigation system by around 2020, making it the third country in the world after the United States and Russia to operate its own navigation system," China's Global Times said. "New technology has significantly improved the performance of the BeiDou-3, with the signal accuracy in space higher than half a meter while its positioning accuracy has reached 2.5 to five meters," the Global Times quoted Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system as saying. China hopes the BeiDou satellite will prove to be a game-changer by expanding its footprints to countries along the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) route. Pakistan is set to be the biggest bineficiary of the project as it is a key ally of China over the OBOR project. "The BeiDou-2 is strategically the second step. Its positioning accuracy in regional wide was higher than 10 meters. The BeiDou-3 is scheduled to offer service to countries along the Belt and Road routes in 2018 and will go global in 2020," Deputy chief designer of the BeiDou-3 Project Xie Jun told Reuters. By around 2020, when the system goes global, it will have more than 30 satellites," the Global Times said. The third generation BeiDou-3 satellites developed by China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology has so far combined with various technologies such as big data, Internet of Things and telecommunications to provide richer comprehensive services, Reuters reported. "BeiDou-1 actually achieved providing positioning service to users on the ground or at low altitudes through satellites, which marked a milestone for China, " Xie Jun told Reuters. "The satellite navigation system is actually a kind of space infrastructure. It is very important to traffic, power and statistics of cash flow among banks. These are lifelines to the nation. If we rely on foreign countries for these critical lifeline systems, strategically it is very dangerous to the national security," he said. "Our country must build its own self-developed BDS that can run independently," Xie asserted.

Eye on OBOR: After BeiDou satellite launch, China aims to build own global positioning system

Within hours of President Xi&#39;s coronation<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/all-countries-should-respect-each-others-sovereignty-chinas-xi-at-obor-15564"> as the supreme leader, the Chinese government once again pitched India</a> to join the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative on the basis of &quot;voluntarism&quot;.

President&#39;s Xi&#39;s key economic centrepiece -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-keen-to-join-chinas-one-belt-one-road-initiative-7756">the One Belt and One Road(OBOR) initiative -&nbsp;has been enshrined</a> in the Chinese constitution approved by the Chinese Communist Party which recently concluded its 19th session on Tuesday.

&quot;We welcome other countries including India to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the basis of voluntarism,&quot; Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media.&nbsp;

The OBOR is a global trade infrastructure project intended to increase China&#39;s influence abroad.

The BRI will bring tangible benefits to those who are participating in the project at an early date, Geng maintained.

&quot;The initiative will not affect China&#39;s position on relevant issues and our position on relevant initiatives will not be changed,&quot; he said.

In May, India had skipped the opening ceremony of China&#39;s Belt and Road Forum following sovereignty concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The meeting called the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) was being attended by twenty-nine heads of governments including Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickrmasinghe, besides official delegations from other South Asian countries.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city.

The deep-water port and the CPEC is of significance to China as they together facilitate Beijing&#39;s access to the Arabian Sea and resultantly links it with Eurasia and Africa.

The Gwadar port opposite the Mumbai&#39;s port housing the Indian Navy&#39;s western naval command provides a berth for China in the Arabian Sea and to the Indian Ocean.

India opposes the CPEC as it runs through the Pakistan- Occupied Kashmir.&nbsp;

President's Xi's key economic policy -?the One Belt and One Road(OBOR) initiative?has been enshrined in the Chinese constitution approved by the Chinese Communist Party

Within hours of President Xi's coronation as the supreme leader, the Chinese government once again pitched India to join the One Belt, One Road(OBOR) initiative on the basis of "voluntarism". President's Xi's key economic centrepiece - the One Belt and One Road(OBOR) initiative - has been enshrined in the Chinese constitution approved by the Chinese Communist Party which recently concluded its 19th session on Tuesday. "We welcome other countries including India to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the basis of voluntarism," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media. The OBOR is a global trade infrastructure project intended to increase China's influence abroad. The BRI will bring tangible benefits to those who are participating in the project at an early date, Geng maintained. "The initiative will not affect China's position on relevant issues and our position on relevant initiatives will not be changed," he said. In May, India had skipped the opening ceremony of China's Belt and Road Forum following sovereignty concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The meeting called the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) was being attended by twenty-nine heads of governments including Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickrmasinghe, besides official delegations from other South Asian countries. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. The deep-water port and the CPEC is of significance to China as they together facilitate Beijing's access to the Arabian Sea and resultantly links it with Eurasia and Africa. The Gwadar port opposite the Mumbai's port housing the Indian Navy's western naval command provides a berth for China in the Arabian Sea and to the Indian Ocean. India opposes the CPEC as it runs through the Pakistan- Occupied Kashmir.

India welcome to join Belt and Road Initiative, says China

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/hillary-clintons-childhood-and-how-it-shaped-her-politics-8189" target="_blank">Hillary Clinton&nbsp;</a>Monday&nbsp;accused<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/wikileaks-releases-20000-emails-of-democratic-party-officials-working-against-bernie-sanders-3076" target="_blank"> WikiLeaks</a> of working with Russia to deflect attention away from an infamous tape of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-faces-uphill-battle-in-second-us-presidential-debate-with-clinton-7288" target="_blank">Donald Trump </a>bragging about groping women in the run-up to the US presidential election.

The former secretary of state&#39;s devastating election loss to Trump remains raw and she again lashed out at WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his alleged role in damaging her candidacy.

&quot;Assange has become a kind of nihilistic opportunist who does the bidding of a dictator,&quot; she said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

&quot;WikiLeaks is unfortunately now practically a fully-owned subsidiary of Russian intelligence.&quot;

The US intelligence community concluded Putin ordered an influence campaign to discredit Clinton and had a &quot;clear preference&quot; for Trump in last year&#39;s poll.

Clinton used the bombshell Trump tape as an example of how WikiLeaks allegedly tried to deflect attention away from a bad news story, resurrecting the incident in the wake of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein&#39;s fall from grace over his treatment of women.

In the 2005 videotape, which surfaced in October last year, Trump brags about being able to get away with<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/sexual-harassment-charges-against-donald-trump-what-south-asian-women-think-8245" target="_blank"> groping women</a>.

&quot;When you&#39;re a star, they let you do it,&quot; he said. &quot;Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything,&quot; Trump added.

Trump said the comments were &quot;locker-room banter&quot;. Several women subsequently accused him of sexual misconduct, which he denounced as lies.

Within hours of the tape emerging, WikiLeaks published more than 2,000 hacked emails from the personal account of Clinton&#39;s campaign chair John Podesta, which she said blunted its impact.

&quot;WikiLeaks, which in the world in which we find ourselves promised hidden information, promised some kind of secret that might be of influence, was a very clever, diabolical response to the Hollywood Access tape,&quot; she said, referring to the Trump recording.&nbsp;

&quot;And I&#39;ve no doubt in my mind that there was some communication if not coordination to drop those the first time in response to the Hollywood Access tape.&quot;

Clinton claimed WikiLeaks&#39; actions were motivated by Assange&#39;s personal dislike of her.

&quot;I had a lot of history with him because I was secretary of state when WikiLeaks published a lot of very sensitive information from our State Department and our Defence Department,&quot; she said.

&quot;If he&#39;s such a martyr of free speech, why doesn&#39;t WikilLaks ever publish anything coming out of Russia? You don&#39;t see damaging, negative information coming out about the Kremlin on Wikileaks,&quot; Clinton added.

Australian Assange, who has spent five years inside the Ecuador embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges, has denied Russia was the source behind the leaked documents.

The External affairs ministry said that it is important to have an accurate understanding of the situation (Doklam) and not to paint an alarmist picture

Hillary Clinton Monday accused WikiLeaks of working with Russia to deflect attention away from an infamous tape of Donald Trump bragging about groping women in the run-up to the US presidential election. The former secretary of state's devastating election loss to Trump remains raw and she again lashed out at WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his alleged role in damaging her candidacy. "Assange has become a kind of nihilistic opportunist who does the bidding of a dictator," she said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin. "WikiLeaks is unfortunately now practically a fully-owned subsidiary of Russian intelligence." The US intelligence community concluded Putin ordered an influence campaign to discredit Clinton and had a "clear preference" for Trump in last year's poll. Clinton used the bombshell Trump tape as an example of how WikiLeaks allegedly tried to deflect attention away from a bad news story, resurrecting the incident in the wake of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's fall from grace over his treatment of women. In the 2005 videotape, which surfaced in October last year, Trump brags about being able to get away with groping women. "When you're a star, they let you do it," he said. "Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything," Trump added. Trump said the comments were "locker-room banter". Several women subsequently accused him of sexual misconduct, which he denounced as lies. Within hours of the tape emerging, WikiLeaks published more than 2,000 hacked emails from the personal account of Clinton's campaign chair John Podesta, which she said blunted its impact. "WikiLeaks, which in the world in which we find ourselves promised hidden information, promised some kind of secret that might be of influence, was a very clever, diabolical response to the Hollywood Access tape," she said, referring to the Trump recording. "And I've no doubt in my mind that there was some communication if not coordination to drop those the first time in response to the Hollywood Access tape." Clinton claimed WikiLeaks' actions were motivated by Assange's personal dislike of her. "I had a lot of history with him because I was secretary of state when WikiLeaks published a lot of very sensitive information from our State Department and our Defence Department," she said. "If he's such a martyr of free speech, why doesn't WikilLaks ever publish anything coming out of Russia? You don't see damaging, negative information coming out about the Kremlin on Wikileaks," Clinton added. Australian Assange, who has spent five years inside the Ecuador embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges, has denied Russia was the source behind the leaked documents.

No new development at Doklam, clarifies India

A day after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/xi-joins-mao-in-communist-constitution-tightening-grip-on-china-22842">President Xi was formally re-appointed as the head of the Communist Party</a> of China, Jinping today unveiled his new politburo members.

China on Tuesday had enshrined&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-communist-party-endorses-president-xi-for-second-five-year-term-22790">Xi Jinping&#39;s name in the Chinese Party constitution, elevating his status </a>to the pantheon of China&#39;s great leaders alongside Chairman Mao and market reformer&nbsp;Deng Xiaoping.

The country&#39;s new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) consists of President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and newcomers Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng.

&quot;We have just held the first plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and elected a new central leadership. I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on,&quot; Xi said.

&quot;Now, I wish to present to you the other six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau: Comrade Li Keqiang, Comrade Li Zhanshu, Comrade Wang Yang, Comrade Wang Huning, Comrade Zhao Leji, and Comrade Han Zheng,&quot; he said.

&quot;Comrade Li Keqiang served on the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the 18th CPC Central Committee, while all the others were members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee,&quot; Xi added.

&nbsp;Speaking at the closing session of the Communist Party of China which was held over five days, Xi had told party workers to &quot;work tirelessly and forge ahead on the journey of realising the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.&quot;

The party congress had also approved the constitutional amendment to include &quot;Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era&quot;.

Xi managed to get at least two of his programmes written into the constitution - anti-corruption campaign that has brought down 1.5 million crooked officials since 2012 and the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/be-good-audience-china-state-media-says-after-india-skips-obor-15593"> One Belt and One Road(OBOR) initiative, the global trade</a> infrastructure project intended to increase China&#39;s influence abroad.

When he opened the gathering last week, Xi declared that China had entered a &quot;new era&quot; with the ambitious goal of becoming a &quot;global leader&quot; by mid-century.

At the closing session, Xi said the congress established &quot;the goal of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and then embarking on a journey to fully build a modern socialist China&quot;.

China on Tuesday had enshrined?Xi Jinping's name in the Chinese Party constitution, elevating his status to the pantheon of China's great leaders

A day after President Xi was formally re-appointed as the head of the Communist Party of China, Jinping today unveiled his new politburo members. China on Tuesday had enshrined Xi Jinping's name in the Chinese Party constitution, elevating his status to the pantheon of China's great leaders alongside Chairman Mao and market reformer Deng Xiaoping. The country's new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) consists of President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and newcomers Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng. "We have just held the first plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and elected a new central leadership. I was re-elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. I see this as not just approval of my work, but also encouragement that will spur me on," Xi said. "Now, I wish to present to you the other six newly elected members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau: Comrade Li Keqiang, Comrade Li Zhanshu, Comrade Wang Yang, Comrade Wang Huning, Comrade Zhao Leji, and Comrade Han Zheng," he said. "Comrade Li Keqiang served on the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the 18th CPC Central Committee, while all the others were members of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee," Xi added. Speaking at the closing session of the Communist Party of China which was held over five days, Xi had told party workers to "work tirelessly and forge ahead on the journey of realising the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." The party congress had also approved the constitutional amendment to include "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era". Xi managed to get at least two of his programmes written into the constitution - anti-corruption campaign that has brought down 1.5 million crooked officials since 2012 and the One Belt and One Road(OBOR) initiative, the global trade infrastructure project intended to increase China's influence abroad. When he opened the gathering last week, Xi declared that China had entered a "new era" with the ambitious goal of becoming a "global leader" by mid-century. At the closing session, Xi said the congress established "the goal of securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and then embarking on a journey to fully build a modern socialist China".

New era in China: President Xi unveils new politburo members

Unidentified<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-should-not-look-at-cpec-from-indian-perspective-pak-minister-iqbal-to-trump-administration-22339"> men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled </a>grenades at a labourers&#39; hostel in Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port which is a key link for China&#39;s &quot;One Belt and One Road&quot; project.

The Gwadar port in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sino-india-relations-heads-for-freezer-over-cpec-dispute-11472">Pakistan&#39;s restive Balochistan province has been</a> developed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack.

&quot;They labourers were having dinner at the hostel when motorcyclists attacked them with a grenade,&quot; police official Imam Bakhsh told Reuters.

In January, China had handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion CPEC project.

The Chinese government is expected to provide two more ships to the Pakistan Navy which have been named Dasht and Zhob after two districts in Balochistan.&nbsp;

China has not only rebuilt the Gwadar port but also has its operational control.

It is also building a network of roads and railways to link up its remote western region to Gwadar for easier access to the Arabian Sea.

The Gwadar port which is a key link for China's "One Belt and Road" project

Unidentified men suspected to be separatist rebels in Baluchistan hurled grenades at a labourers' hostel in Pakistan's Gwadar port which is a key link for China's "One Belt and One Road" project. The Gwadar port in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has been developed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) linking western China through Pakistan with the Middle East, Africa and Europe. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. "They labourers were having dinner at the hostel when motorcyclists attacked them with a grenade," police official Imam Bakhsh told Reuters. In January, China had handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the $46 billion CPEC project. The Chinese government is expected to provide two more ships to the Pakistan Navy which have been named Dasht and Zhob after two districts in Balochistan. China has not only rebuilt the Gwadar port but also has its operational control. It is also building a network of roads and railways to link up its remote western region to Gwadar for easier access to the Arabian Sea.

China's OBOR: Pakistan's Gwadar port attacked, 26 injured

Pakistan&#39;s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has reportedly<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-pakistan-ink-6-pacts-ahead-of-obor-summit-xi-says-ties-priority-15550"> told the United States that China&ndash;Pakistan Economic</a> Corridor(CPEC) shouldn&#39;t be looked as &quot;a security strategy&quot; but as an economic tool to bring peace and stability in South Asia, a report said.

In an indirect reference to India, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-skips-chinas-obor-summit-over-sovereignty-concerns-15556">Pakistan urged the United States to judge</a> the country on its own merit, &quot;instead of tagging it to other states and issues in the region&quot;, the Dawn reported.

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion CPEC, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city.

&quot;CPEC is not a conspiracy against anyone. It is not a security plan. It&rsquo;s a plan for economic prosperity, which is bringing investment in the energy, infrastructure and other key sectors,&rdquo; the Dawn quoted Pakistan&#39;s Interior minister as saying.

Speaking at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, Ahsan Iqbal said: &quot;The US should not look at CPEC from the Indian perspective, but as a source for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;CPEC can bring the much-needed stability to a region that has suffered from war for the last several decades,&rdquo; he added.

&quot;Pakistan is also a sovereign nation. We have our own dignity and want others to respect that,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

&ldquo;If the US looks at the region from India&rsquo;s perspective, it will harm the region and US interests too. So, it&rsquo;s necessary that the US should view the situation from an independent perspective, not from someone else&rsquo;s point of view,&rdquo; the minister said.

In May, Pakistan&#39;s former Prime Minister Sharif had attended a presentation made by China&#39;s National Energy Administration (NEA) on the construction of Bhasha Dam, a project which he said is of critical importance for the future of Pakistan.

Pakistani media reported that Chinese companies had &quot;conducted survey and studies&quot; on the North Indus Cascade project.

The report said China&#39;s interest in providing $50 billion to fund the project could generate 40,000 MW hydro electricity.&nbsp;

China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion CPEC,

Pakistan's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has reportedly told the United States that China–Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) shouldn't be looked as "a security strategy" but as an economic tool to bring peace and stability in South Asia, a report said. In an indirect reference to India, Pakistan urged the United States to judge the country on its own merit, "instead of tagging it to other states and issues in the region", the Dawn reported. China and Pakistan have signed six pacts to boost cooperation on the $50 billion CPEC, including one on building an airport at the strategic Gwadar port city. "CPEC is not a conspiracy against anyone. It is not a security plan. It’s a plan for economic prosperity, which is bringing investment in the energy, infrastructure and other key sectors,” the Dawn quoted Pakistan's Interior minister as saying. Speaking at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, Ahsan Iqbal said: "The US should not look at CPEC from the Indian perspective, but as a source for peace, stability and prosperity in the region." "CPEC can bring the much-needed stability to a region that has suffered from war for the last several decades,” he added. "Pakistan is also a sovereign nation. We have our own dignity and want others to respect that,” he said. “If the US looks at the region from India’s perspective, it will harm the region and US interests too. So, it’s necessary that the US should view the situation from an independent perspective, not from someone else’s point of view,” the minister said. In May, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Sharif had attended a presentation made by China's National Energy Administration (NEA) on the construction of Bhasha Dam, a project which he said is of critical importance for the future of Pakistan. Pakistani media reported that Chinese companies had "conducted survey and studies" on the North Indus Cascade project. The report said China's interest in providing $50 billion to fund the project could generate 40,000 MW hydro electricity.

US should not look at CPEC from Indian perspective: Pak minister Iqbal to Trump administration

The Trump administration today threw its weight behind<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-attempting-to-tie-india-to-its-chariot-says-china-daily-20971" target="_blank"> India&#39;s opposition to the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying it passes through a disputed territory</a> and no country should put itself into a position of dictating the Belt and Road initiative.

India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns. It&nbsp;is<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/india-a-retail-power-china-ready-to-offer-help-says-state-run-daily-times-20523" target="_blank"> a flagship project of China&#39;s prestigious One Belt One Road (OBOR), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).</a>

Having returned from his maiden trip to India last week wherein he met his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-defence-secretary-james-mattis-holds-talks-with-indian-defence-minister-in-new-delhi-20666" target="_blank">US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today appeared to be a strong opponent of China&#39;s ambitious OBOR initiative.</a>

&quot;In a globalised world, there are many belts and many roads, and no one nation should put itself into a position of dictating &#39;one belt, one road&#39;,&quot; Mattis told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing.

&quot;That said, the One Belt One Road also goes through the disputed territory, and I think, that in itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate,&quot; Mattis said apparently referring to India&#39;s position on CPEC.

Mattis was responding to a question from Senator Charles Peters over OBOR and China&#39;s policy in this regard.

&quot;The One Belt One Road strategy seeks to secure China&#39;s control over both the continental and the maritime interest, in their eventual hope of dominating Eurasia and exploiting natural resources there, things that are certainly at odds with US policy. So what role do you see China playing in Afghanistan, and particularly related to their One Belt One Road,&quot; Peter had asked.

The Trump administration today threw its weight behind India's opposition to the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying it passes through a disputed territory and no country should put itself into a position of dictating the Belt and Road initiative

The Trump administration today threw its weight behind India's opposition to the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying it passes through a disputed territory and no country should put itself into a position of dictating the Belt and Road initiative. India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in May this year due to its sovereignty concerns. It is a flagship project of China's prestigious One Belt One Road (OBOR), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Having returned from his maiden trip to India last week wherein he met his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis today appeared to be a strong opponent of China's ambitious OBOR initiative. "In a globalised world, there are many belts and many roads, and no one nation should put itself into a position of dictating 'one belt, one road'," Mattis told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing. "That said, the One Belt One Road also goes through the disputed territory, and I think, that in itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate," Mattis said apparently referring to India's position on CPEC. Mattis was responding to a question from Senator Charles Peters over OBOR and China's policy in this regard. "The One Belt One Road strategy seeks to secure China's control over both the continental and the maritime interest, in their eventual hope of dominating Eurasia and exploiting natural resources there, things that are certainly at odds with US policy. So what role do you see China playing in Afghanistan, and particularly related to their One Belt One Road," Peter had asked.

One Belt One Road goes through disputed territory: US

After Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/pakistans-habib-bank-under-us-scanner-in-money-laundering-case-faces-630-million-fine-19609">opened two branches in Karachi and Islamabad six years ago</a>,&nbsp;Bank of China(BoC) has been given the green signal to open a branch in Pakistan by the State Bank of Pakistan(SBP).

The State bank of Pakistan in a statement said, &quot;In Pakistan, the BoC aims to provide specialised banking services to serve the financing needs of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/shun-enmity-and-join-cpec-pakistan-tells-india-10400">China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</a> related projects by leveraging on its experience and global technology platform.&quot;

Pakistan&#39;s State Bank had already issued the license to BoC in May. The Chinese bank is a&nbsp;subsidiary of Central Huijin, the investment arm of the Chinese government and is among the biggest banks in China.

BoC has branches across the world with several spread across <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-opens-dual-use-highway-in-tibet-linking-to-nepal-border-20362">China&#39;s ambitious One Belt One Road(OBOR) Silk road</a> project which seeks to integrate road and railway links across Asia to further Chinese trade and investment including movement of Chinese military whenever required.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The BoC&rsquo;s entry into Pakistan will not only further strengthen the bilateral relationship of Pakistan and China but will also represent growing confidence of international investors on the country&#39;s banking sector and the stable economic outlook,&rdquo; SBP said underlying China&#39;s growing influence in Pakistan&#39;s development projects. &nbsp;

China is Pakistan&#39;s biggest trading partner however over the years Pakistan&#39;s trade deficit with the Asian giant has widened astronomically.

Last year China&#39;s export into Pakistan grew exponentially but Pakistan&#39;s export to China has been falling consistently in the last five years.

In 2015, Pakistan exported goods worth &nbsp;$1.903 billion however it imported Chinese goods worth &nbsp;$8.126billion.

Pakistan is now pushing its trading partner to review its trading conditions as its current account deficit continues to grow. &nbsp;

According to the SBP, the country&#39;s current account deficit tripled to $8.9 billion last year through till May this year while foreign exchange fell 15% to $15.9 billion in the same period.

The Chinese bank is a?subsidiary of Central Huijin, the investment arm of the Chinese government and is among the biggest banks in China

After Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) opened two branches in Karachi and Islamabad six years ago, Bank of China(BoC) has been given the green signal to open a branch in Pakistan by the State Bank of Pakistan(SBP). The State bank of Pakistan in a statement said, "In Pakistan, the BoC aims to provide specialised banking services to serve the financing needs of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related projects by leveraging on its experience and global technology platform." Pakistan's State Bank had already issued the license to BoC in May. The Chinese bank is a subsidiary of Central Huijin, the investment arm of the Chinese government and is among the biggest banks in China. BoC has branches across the world with several spread across China's ambitious One Belt One Road(OBOR) Silk road project which seeks to integrate road and railway links across Asia to further Chinese trade and investment including movement of Chinese military whenever required. “The BoC’s entry into Pakistan will not only further strengthen the bilateral relationship of Pakistan and China but will also represent growing confidence of international investors on the country's banking sector and the stable economic outlook,” SBP said underlying China's growing influence in Pakistan's development projects. China is Pakistan's biggest trading partner however over the years Pakistan's trade deficit with the Asian giant has widened astronomically. Last year China's export into Pakistan grew exponentially but Pakistan's export to China has been falling consistently in the last five years. In 2015, Pakistan exported goods worth $1.903 billion however it imported Chinese goods worth $8.126billion. Pakistan is now pushing its trading partner to review its trading conditions as its current account deficit continues to grow. According to the SBP, the country's current account deficit tripled to $8.9 billion last year through till May this year while foreign exchange fell 15% to $15.9 billion in the same period.

Bank of China opens branch in Pakistan, set to finance China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects

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