Speaking at a US-South Asia event in the United States on Thursday. US Special Envoy for South Asia Alice Wells said that China and Pakistan are calling the CPEC a "game-changer". But it will only protect Chinese interests, the United States has a better economic model.
Ellis Wells said that "It is clear that the CPEC is not a relief project for Pakistan,". Pakistan should ask China tough questions about these projects. He also said that "The impact of the CPEC will be on the Pakistani economy when Pakistan has to pay off its debts after four or six years,".
According to the US Special, the terms of the loans received under the CPEC are not softened, while Chinese companies are also moving their workers and raw materials to Pakistan. He says "Under the CPEC, Chinese companies and workers are coming to Pakistan, even though unemployment in Pakistan is constantly increasing,".
Alice Wells also expressed concern that these loans are apparently long-term. But even then, they will continue to stick to Pakistan's current Prime Minister Imran Khan's reform agenda.
He said, "America has a better model to support Pakistan's economy,". He said, "The investment of private companies in Pakistan and government assistance can benefit Pakistan economically,".
Remember that Pakistan has been a traditional ally of the United States, but for the past few years, relations between the two countries have been cold. However, US President Donald Trump has been pushing for improving relations with Pakistan. President Trump has also been calling Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan his friend.
But the United States has been a major opponent of China's 'Belt and Road' project. Even before this, US officials have been warning Pakistan about the CPEC.
China wants to connect about 66 countries in the world, including Central Asia, to trade under the Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the One Belt One Road Project. Part of the project, called 'CPEC, is that China has signed $46 billion investment agreements in Pakistan.
China will also invest in the energy sector in Pakistan besides the network of motorways and railway links to The Guader port of Pakistan.
The World Bank and IMF have also been expressing concerns over the possible impact of China- Pakistan economic guidance projects on the Pakistani economy. Earlier, India has also sought to stop the CPEC's ongoing projects in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
After India announced the end of its semi-autonomous state of Kashmir on August 5, India had called for a halt to the CPEC projects in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
Under the CPEC, voices have been raised from within Pakistan on the transparency of nearly $46 billion Chinese investment projects in Pakistan. But Pakistani authorities dismiss these concerns, calling the projects "game changers" and calling them "game-changers".
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