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China’s political secretary to Islamabad, Wang Shengjie, has slammed what he described as “false rhetoric” surrounding the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), raising serious concerns about the project’s future, The Guardian reported.
Following a series of attacks on Chinese workers, including a suicide bombing in Karachi in October 2024 that killed two Chinese nationals, Beijing has publicly criticized Pakistan over security lapses. In a report published by The Guardian on Sunday, Shengjie highlighted persistent security challenges in Pakistan.
“Shengjie accused the Pakistani government of promoting ‘false rhetoric’ around CPEC projects, creating unrealistic expectations among the local population,” the report stated. He emphasized China’s focus on development rather than rhetoric.
“We don’t work in rhetoric like Pakistan – we just focus on development. If this kind of security situation persists, it will hamper progress,” he was quoted as saying.
The report further noted Shengjie’s “serious concerns” over the future of CPEC due to ongoing security issues. “If the security is not improved, who would come and work in this environment? There is hatred against the Chinese in Gwadar and Balochistan,” Shengjie reportedly remarked. “Some evil forces are against the CPEC, and they want to sabotage it.”
CPEC, launched in 2015, is a cornerstone of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, designed to enhance China’s access to key trade routes across Asia and Africa.
