ISLAMABAD – The impression about the establishment of a rumoured military base by China near Gwadar port of Pakistan has set tongues wagging inside the country with disputed reports swirling in Pakistani media outlets.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang held a press briefing on Tuesday where he was asked about whether ‘China is planning to build a military base in Pakistan’?
To the query, Kang replied: “I am not aware of the situation you mentioned.”
Scores of leading dailies twisted the whole story suggesting that China dismissed the reports of establishing the rumoured base, though the official spokesperson had actually denied knowledge of the matter.
The report by leading daily Dawn quoted Indian media outlet NDTV and it seems the statement has not been cross-verified.
The reason behind the query was a report put forth by Pentagon in June 2017 in which Pakistan was singled out as a possible location for a future Chinese military base.
The prediction came in a 97-page annual report to Congress that read: “China most likely will seek to establish additional military bases in countries with which it has a longstanding friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan.”
“This initiative, along with regular naval vessel visits to foreign ports, both reflects and amplifies China’s growing influence, extending the reach of its armed forces,” it added.
After the Pentagon disclosure, Pakistan’s all-weather ally rubbished the report. Moreover, a statement by Foreign office also contradicted the construction of any such base.
“There is no proposal of building any Chinese military base near Gwadar. This is all propaganda against the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and strengthening of relations between Pakistan and China,” Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Mohammad Faisal had said last week.
