China's reluctance to approve new project proposals from Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been attributed to security and political instability concerns. The Nikkei Asia report on October 2 revealed minutes from a high-level meeting between the two nations, shedding light on China's reservations about further investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive $50 billion BRI project.
Pakistan had submitted proposals covering various sectors, including energy, climate change, electricity transmission, and tourism, but these were reportedly declined by Beijing. Of particular note, China rejected a plan to connect the Gwadar port to Karachi's electricity grid and insisted on retaining a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Gwadar, which Pakistan had intended to relocate.
The backdrop of political instability, notably the removal of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2022, and security concerns due to attacks on Chinese interests appear to have influenced China's decision. James M. Dorsey, an expert from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, suggested that China perceives its assets and personnel in Pakistan as being at risk.
In a significant incident in August, the Baloch Liberation Army's Majeed Brigade targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Gwadar, resulting in casualties, including Chinese nationals. The BLA subsequently issued a direct warning to China, giving them a 90-day ultimatum to withdraw from Balochistan or face intensified attacks on its interests in the region.
China's hesitancy regarding further investments in CPEC is driven by legitimate concerns for the security of its assets and personnel in an increasingly unstable region, marked by attacks and threats from insurgent groups.
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