Chinese diplomat and Rauf Klasra in bitter tweeting match over CPEC

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 2 January 2017

The dispute began when Klasra questioned job allocations for locals in CPEC projects. Zhao defended Chinese labor policies and criticized Klasra's claims about coal plants in China.

Summary

ISLAMABAD - Muhammad Lijian Zhao, a Chinese diplomat based in Islamabad, and 92 News analyst Rauf Klasra (pictured) were Monday involved in a bitter tweeting match that started with the question of jobs for locals in the CPEC projects before both harshly confronted each other.

On Twitter Zhao tells people to “follow” him “to get news about China & CPEC Based in Chinese Embassy in Pakistan."

The tussle started with a Klasra tweet in which he said that Senate was informed that Chinese firms were “importing all labor” from China, hinting that locals were not given jobs as purchases were also not from Pakistan.

Zhao immediately reacted, asking Klasra “Could you tell who has informed Senate about this lie? Quoting such a high office is extremely irresponsible. Senators could not be fooled.” In another tweet he said: “Another joke of the day. Over 10000 Pakistanis are working on Sahiwal, Port Qasim, M-5, KKH etc. Most steel, cement, sand are bought locally.”

Klasra then raised the issue of China closing down coal plants because of pollution and wondered if the same were being installed in Pakistan – “Is coal plants machinery same of plants being closed in China b/c of rising pollution or its new machinery? Will u pls enlighten us?” Klasra asked the Chinese diplomat to read the December 2014 issue of The Economist “which reported closure of Chinese coal plants & death of 0.5m/yr Or i ll send u copy.”

Zhao maintained coal is China’s main source of power production – 61% - and also denied that China was closing down coal plants. When Klasra pointed towards “Why 0.5m/year deaths b/c coal pollution” in China, Zhao termed it a “big lie”.

However, Klasra retorted: “Pls stop terming facts as lie. You better read ur own country affairs. Sorry to say but u r ignorant to whats happening in Coal in China.”

When Klasra pointed towards democracy and concept of free media, Zhao maintained: “China has free & responsible media.” However he added: “I do know a handful of people spreading lies, rumors in disguise of free media. I know how to deal with.”

Afterwards both Klasra and Zhao got personal.

Klasra maintained: “I am afraid with that much little or zero knowledge about latest on coal plants in China & u ll ruin Chinese Govt credibility as its spokesman.”

Zhao responded: “Deng Xiao said, when you open window, both air & flies come in. CPEC enjoys wide support in Pakistan. A few noises do not matter to CPEC.”