The entrance of Chinese-invested Gwadar Port in Pakistan Photo: cnsphoto

Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to media reports stating that "protests broke out in the Gwadar port", Pakistan, last week against the issuance of excessive fishing rights to Chinese trawlers is fake news. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing on Tuesday that some Western media's reportage is fake, and those media have baselessly claimed that "protests broke out in Gwadar port". 

Zhao said that no Chinese trawlers were fishing and docking in the waters of Gwadar port, period. 

The response came after some media outlets reported that the issuance of excessive fishing rights to Chinese trawlers would not benefit local residents and would have a negative impact on the livelihood of local fishermen.

Zhao said that Gwadar port, an exemplary project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), focuses on generating benefits to local people. China has always adhered to the principle of mutual respect and consensus in the process of promoting cooperation with Pakistan, and is firmly opposed to the media outlets' violating basic journalistic ethics and morality, by maliciously smearing the construction of the CPEC and friendly China-Pakistan bilateral relations.

Global Times