Beijing: Playing down the strategic
significance of China expanding its railway network in Tibet,
a Chinese analyst on Sunday said India is "worrying too much" by
looking at economic and development issues from the security
perspective.
Reacting to reports from India raising concerns over
China`s development of railway network in Tibet from Lhasa to
Xigaze, close to Indian border, Fu Xiaoqiang, an expert on
Indian issues at the China Institutes of Contemporary
International Relations, said concerns were due to mixing up
of economic and security issues.
"India always approaches economic issues from a
security perspective," he told state-run Global Times, adding
all engagements and interactions between China and other
counties in South Asia are viewed as strategic threats.
Fu said China`s construction of railways in Tibet is
aimed at improving the lives of local people and at promoting
local economic development.
Whether the railway will be extended to Nepal is not
to be decided solely by China, but by the mutual demands of
the two countries. If the railway is finally connected with
the network of South Asia, it will do more good than harm in
terms of trade and security, he said.
He said Rail India Technical and Economic Services has
proposed to build six rail links with Nepal and three with
Bhutan as a priority, which will help improve their social
economic conditions.
China`s decision to extend its railway network from
Lhasa to Xigaze had caused concern in India, as the network is
likely to reduce Nepal`s dependence on India.
PTI
