China is one of the smartest countries out there. CPEC makes NO ECONOMIC sense. It makes a huge strategic sense. At its door now is a client semi-colonial state that will never criticise if the a million Muslims are in concentration camps being "reeducated" or thousands being tortured and raped. This nation is now in total debt to China for generations to come. It is already pawning assets to China. It offers Gwadar, a military observation port on the Indian ocean with the Chinese now garrisoned in Razor wire surrounded encampment and militarily patrolled and protected by the Pakistani army . This cost is borne by Pakistani Awam that is barely aware of the significance of Chinese presence nor of the Chinese only areas. Gwadar one day will be a military seaport for the growing Chinese ocean going navy. Refueling , R&R etc
OBOR however makes a lot of economic sense. Access to central asia and Eastern Europe was difficult whichever route you chose. These are low populated , very large areas of real estate full of unexploited natural resources that have remained undeveloped because of their isolation. OBOR will offer rich rewards in terms of trade and resources that includes vast underpopulated lands