Islamabad, January 10 (KMW): China has rejected speculations that it is planning to establish a military base in Gwadar.
He said building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important part of the One Belt and One Road Initiative.
Lu Kang further said China and Pakistan are also making efforts to build the CPEC which is in the common interests of the countries along the route.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said he doesn’t think it is necessary for the outside world to make too much guesses in this regard.
Earlier in July, 2017 Beijing dismissed an annual US Defense Department report as ‘irresponsible’ that predicted China would expand its global military presence, building overseas bases in countries including Pakistan.
The Pentagon report estimated that China spent $180 billion in 2016 on its military – the world’s largest – a figure well over the country’s official $140 billion defence budget. “China most likely will seek to establish additional military bases in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan, and in which there is a precedent for hosting foreign militaries,†the report said.
