'Debt trap' claims won't disrupt Pak-China cooperation: embassy

The Chinese Embassy on Tuesday firmly dismissed the US envoy's assertions of a so-called "debt trap" in China-Pakistan relations, calling the remarks agenda-driven, asserting that Beijing's robust cooperation with Islamabad would not be disrupted by a "rhetorical trap".

In a statement, the embassy's spokesperson responded to Pakistani media reports quoting the Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker, who had raised concerns over Pakistan's financial engagement with China, urging that Islamabad must safeguard itself from falling into any country's "debt trap".

The spokesperson said that the American diplomat's reference to a "so-called 'debt trap' rhetoric" was itself a "rhetorical trap," adding that it amounted to "playing the same old tune, and distorting the truth with an agenda".

Citing Pakistan's own public positions, the Chinese Embassy stressed that "western countries and multilateral financial institutions are its largest creditors," whereas "China's financial support and practical cooperation with Pakistan have effectively helped Pakistan stabilise its finance, develop its economy, and improve people's livelihoods".

"Pakistan has stated publicly on multiple occasions that western countries and multilateral financial institutions are its largest creditors, whereas China's financial support and practical cooperation with Pakistan have effectively helped Pakistan stabilize its finance, develop its economy, and improve people's livelihoods," the statement read.