China on Monday reacted guardedly to Saudi Arabia’s plan to invest in China Pakistani Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying it is a “positive factor”.
When asked about Saudi plans to invest in CPEC, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing that “the CPEC is an important project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)”.
He said BRI projects followed wide consultations and shared benefits.
“So such cooperation has always been open and transparent. If any other party would like to contribute positive factors to promote the inter-connectivity and prosperity of the region on the basis of consultation, I think this is a positive factor,” Lu said.
The CPEC is the flagship project of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a pet project of President Xi Jinping aimed at enhancing China’s influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.
Baloch political organisations and pro-independence armed groups have express strong reservations about the mega project CPEC, which has a large portion of its corridor passing through Balochistan.
The Baloch leaders have also strongly condemned Saudi plans to invest in Balochistan. Various Baloch leaders issued strong statements in last few days warning Saudi Arabia against investment in what they called an ‘occupied territory’.
Dr Allah Nazar, the chief of Balochistan’s largest armed group Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), did not mince his words by saying that Saudi Arabia will be considered an enemy if it joins hands with China and Pakistan.
“Balochistan is an occupied territory in which any country’s investment in infringement of international laws regarding occupied and disputed regions,” Dr Nazar said in a statement last week.
Commander Aslam Baloch, leader of one of Balochistan’s most lethal groups, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), said that Saudi Arabia should refrain from believing Pakistani lies on Balochistan.
He said that CPEC and other such projects are direct attacks on Baloch interests, and warned that these projects will meet extreme resistance.
He added that Balochistan is an occupied territory and Baloch youth are continuously struggling for its independence.