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China Slams US for 'Spreading Rumors' About BRI Investments in Pakistan

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - China has defended its infrastructure development
   investments in Pakistan as "open and transparent," refuting renewed
   U.S. criticism of the ongoing multibillion-dollar economic
   collaboration under Beijing's global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

   The Chinese embassy in Islamabad issued the rebuttal Wednesday in
   response to comments in Pakistani media attributed to a visiting senior
   U.S. diplomat questioning the transparency and fairness of projects
   being implemented in what is known as the bilateral China-Pakistan
   Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship of the trillion-dollar BRI.

   "The entire process is open and transparent and is in line with the
   international norm. We keep in touch with the relative accountability
   agencies of Pakistan and it is agreed that the CPEC is clean," the
   Chinese diplomatic mission stressed in its statement.

   'Debt trap' allegations

   Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells, who visited
   Pakistan this week, was also quoted as saying the CPEC-related
   financing was burdening Pakistan with expensive Chinese loans. She had
   raised similar concerns and questions while delivering a public speech
   in Washington last November.

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