India 'worries too much' about Chinese railway: Chinese analyst

BEIJING: Playing down the strategic significance of China expanding its railway network in Tibet, a Chinese analyst today 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.