Chinese ambassador in Pakistan goes on offensive on China-Pak Economic Corridor - on Twitter

NEW DELHI: After bearing criticism stoically and silently for months on the China-Pak Economic Corridor, the Chinese embassy in Islamabad went on the offensive yesterday tweeting its displeasure and getting into arguments with some mediapersons.

It appears acting Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Zhao Lijian is fed up of hearing charges that the China-Pak Economic Corridor is beset with corruption, favouritism, abysmal working conditions and the like.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an economic corridor that aims to facilitate trade along an overland route that connects Kashgar in China and the Gwadar port in Pakistan, through the construction of a network of highways, railways and pipelines.

At a seminar yesterday, Zhao defended the project, Dawn reported.

"CPEC is working well. But there are some people who are maligning the project, which enjoys the support of most of the people of Pakistan," he said while responding to a question about the embassy's handling of the objections being voiced by different quarters," Zhao reportedly said.

And then the acting Chinese ambassador to Pakistan tweeted up a storm. That is, if the account is indeed Zhao's. (While it isn't verified by Twitter, the account does have a link to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan's website.)

In an aphorism targeted at "people who are maligning the project", Zhao said:

For those who accuse CPEC projects of corruption, there is one Chinese saying: Gauge the heart of a gentleman with one's own mean measure.

— Muhammad Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) December 19, 2016

Then, a Dawn journalist snarkily tweeted:

No need for that war on corruption back in China, then... https://t.co/A3T9ARr5DB

— cyril almeida (@cyalm) December 19, 2016

Zhao didn't like that. He tweeted this back:

No need to be cynical. FYI, China punished 1.01 million officials since 2013. CPEC projects are a clean sheet. They are part of the war, too https://t.co/Q3wjJXi8VU

— Muhammad Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) December 19, 2016

Then, addressing a rumour that China is using Chinese prisoners to work on the $51 billion project - to save labour costs - Zhao fulminated thus:

It is really unfortunate that senior journalists believe in this kind of stories of Chinese prisoners in CPEC projects. Are they out of mind https://t.co/wTGcIH3vI0

— Muhammad Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) December 19, 2016

The journalist then questioned the tone of the tweet, especially the bit that said "out of their mind". After all, it was coming from a top diplomat.

Much that is unfortunate here and several out of their minds, but surely not a reasonable (diplomatic?) response... https://t.co/CTIV3ipZv1

— cyril almeida (@cyalm) December 19, 2016

Oh, the top diplomat didn't like that one bit either and shot back:

When those people spread rumors that Chinese workers are prisoners, are they diplomatic? For those people, only one word nonsense https://t.co/nPnpCTSY5L

— Muhammad Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) December 19, 2016

The journalist wasn't the only one surprised at this aggression.

If that's the approach to this place, you'll have an aneurysm before long... https://t.co/VNVkdz381P

— cyril almeida (@cyalm) December 19, 2016