Days after China and Pakistan held a meeting to bring other countries into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), India on Tuesday said that efforts to broaden CPEC's scope are "inherently illegal".
"We have seen reports on encouraging a proposed participation of third countries in so called CPEC projects. Any such actions by any party directly infringe on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan," said Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Joint Working Group of International Cooperation and Coordination under CPEC met on July 21, when the Pakistani and Chinese officials discussed bringing in a third county into the fold.
