BEIJING: China on Tuesday denied as “unnecessary” speculation that it was planning to build a military base at Jiwani in Balochistan close to the strategic Chabahar port, which is being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan.
Washington Times reported that China is in talks with Pakistan to build its second overseas military base as part of a push for greater maritime capabilities along strategic sea routes.
“I am not aware of what you mentioned,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the media when asked to comment on the report.
Various foreign media outlets have reported that Pakistan offered the key location to China as a retaliation to US President Donald Trump’s New Year Day criticism of Islamabad for not cracking down on “terrorist safe havens in the country”.
The Chinese media has been speculating that Donald Trump’s efforts to step up pressure on Pakistan may move Beijing closer to Islamabad as China is involved in a number of projects in the country under the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“As you know building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” Lu said.
“Pakistan and China are also making efforts to build the CPEC which is in the common interest of the countries along the route. I don’t think it is necessary for the outside world to make too much guesses in this regard,” he said.
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