Kerry's Pak visit worries China

The state-controlled Global Times ran a commentary that said: "Washington is quickening its steps to implement its 'pivot to Asia' and 'return to South Asia' strategies."

BEIJING: US secretary of state John Kerry's Pak visit caused anxiety in Beijing which wants Islamabad to reduce its dependence on Washington. During a recent visit of prime minister Nawaz Sharif, China offered assistance in various fields including development of an economic corridor running through Pakistan. 

The state-controlled Global Times ran a commentary that said: "Washington is quickening its steps to implement its 'pivot to Asia' and 'return to South Asia' strategies." 

Calling Pakistan a strategic partner, it said," The future development of US-Pak ties is worthy of our close attention." 

A government expert recently said China's plan to build the economic corridor in Pakistan was meant to offset a similar programme unveiled by the US. 

"This basic idea, to a certain degree, coincides with that of the 'New Silk Road' that the US is promoting in Central Asia. The two plans may face competition in the future," Wu Zhaoli, an expert with the state-run National Institute of International Strategy, said in an article. 

The economic corridor plan is being challenged in Pakistan by certain sections which feel that it will almost entirely bypass the backward and sensitive border regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and bring benefits to the Punjab and Sind provinces.