A day after Chinese state media said that China now has a "vested interest" in mediating between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue because of the CPEC, Beijing today denied that it has plans to mediate between the neighbours and said that the vexed issue should be settled bilaterally.
"China's position on the issue of Kashmir is clear and consistent. It is an issue left over from history between India and Pakistan, and shall be properly addressed by India and Pakistan through consultation and negotiation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told PTI.
China's official stand on the contentious Kashmir issue has been that it should be settled between India and Pakistan bilaterally.
China's clarification came a day after an article in the Global Times, a ruling Communist Party of China publication, said that Beijing now has a "vested interest" in mediating between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue because of its nearly USD 50 billion investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK).
"The building of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) does not affect China's position on this issue," Geng Shuang said in a written response to a question about the article in the state- run Global Times.
He also said that China will play a "constructive role" for the improvement of relations between India and Pakistan.
"We sincerely hope that India and Pakistan will properly handle differences by increasing communication and dialogue, and jointly uphold regional peace and stability. China is willing to make constructive efforts for the improvement of India-Pakistan relations," Geng said.
The article yesterday sparked concerns about a shift in China's stand on the Kashmir issue as India is averse to any third-party mediation.
The article had also sought to justify Chinese intervention in bilateral disputes on the grounds of protecting heavy investments being made by Beijing under its Silk Road initiative.
"Given the massive investment that China has made in countries along the One Belt, One Road, China now has a vested interest in helping resolve regional conflicts including the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan," ithad said.
The article had said China cannot turn a "deaf ear" to protect heavy investments by its firms in the CPEC and the Silk Road projects by continuing with its policy of non- interference.
"Given the massive investment that China has made in countries along the One Belt, One Road, China now has a vested interest in helping resolve regional conflicts including the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan," it had said.
This was perhaps the first time that the Chinese official media floated Beijing's interest in playing a mediatory role to resolve the Kashmir issue.
China's official stand has been that the Kashmir issue left over from history should be resolved between India and Pakistan though Beijing has been stepping up its investments in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
While China in the past has played down reports of the presence of its troops in PoK, saying that they were there to deliver humanitarian assistance, its USD 46 billion China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through the disputed Gilgit and Baltistan region increased its involvement in the disputed areas.
The CPEC project will link the Pakistani city of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways.
India has protested to China over the CPEC and is yet to name an official delegation to take part in a summit of the Belt and Road initiative, of which CPEC is a part. The summit is to be held from May 14-15.
Chinese official media also referred to last month's participation of Chinese troops for the first time in the Pakistan Day parade as a sign of Chinese military playing a role in regional stability.
(With PTI inputs)
