India reiterates opposition to China’s BRI, supports programmes in Maldives
Hindustan Times. Referring to security and development assistance provided to the Indian Ocean archipelago by New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a regular media briefing that the Indian side’s cooperation with the Maldives is based on jointly addressing shared challenges and priorities. While responding to several questions on the Belt and Road Forum hosted by China and Muizzu’s comments endorsing the BRI, Bagchi said that India’s position on BRI, including the programme’s “lack of respect for our sovereignty and territorial integrity are well known and consistent".
ALSO READ: India reiterates opposition to China’s BRI, supports programmes in Maldives Bagchi added that unlike in the past, India had not been invited by China to this year’s Belt and Road Forum. “I don’t think we received an invitation this year," he said. It is known that India had opted to stay out of the BRI since a key section of the massive infrastructure project – the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India believes the programme does not offer a level playing field to non-Chinese companies. Pointing out to a statement issued by India in May 2017, when the first Belt and Road Forum was held, Bagchi said that India still opposes BRI and the country’s “concerns still stand today". Parts of CPEC pass through territories that are in “illegal occupation of Pakistan" and this amounts to a violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.
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