UK's Financial Times reported on February 19, 2018 that China has been quietly holding talks with Pakistani tribal separatists for more than five years in an effort to protect the $60bn worth of infrastructure projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It quoted three people with knowledge of the talks as saying that Beijing had been in direct contact with militants in Baluchistan. it noted that while Beijing has maintained a policy of non-interference in the domestic politics of other countries that could now change because of the necessity of protecting its investments in its Belt and Road Initiative. The FT added that Beijing’s willingness to get involved in Pakistani politics has fuelled concerns in New Delhi, which is worried about China’s growing political influence in neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. “The Chinese have quietly made a lot of progress,” said one Pakistani official. “Even though separatists occasionally try to carry out the odd attack, they are not making a forceful push.”