Beijing on Thursday rejected a Pentagon report that accused China of using easing border tensions with India to weaken US-India ties, calling the claims false and aimed at creating discord.
“The Pentagon’s report distorts China’s defence policy, sows discord between China and other countries, and aims at finding a pretext for the US to maintain its military supremacy,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a media briefing in Beijing, firmly opposing the report.
Chinese defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang also rejected the findings, including references to growing defence and space cooperation between China and Pakistan and suggestions about a possible military base.
Zhang called the report biased and said that it exaggerated the so-called “Chinese military threat” and misled the international community. He further urged the US to stop spreading false narratives and provoking confrontation.
China on ties with India
Responding to sections of the report that discussed India-China relations, Lin said Beijing viewed its ties with New Delhi from a long-term and strategic perspective.
“We stand ready to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, and properly handle differences with India, and advance a sound and stable bilateral relationship,” he said.
On references to the Line of Actual Control, Lin said the boundary issue was a matter between China and India, and that the current border situation was stable.
"The boundary question is a matter between China and India, and the current border situation between the two countries is generally stable with smooth communication channels."
What Pentagon said
In its annual report to Congress titled 'Military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China 2025, the US department of war said China may seek to use easing tensions along the Line of Actual Control to stabilise relations with India and prevent closer US-India ties.
The report referred to a meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in October 2024.
The report also said China has expanded the definition of its “core interests” to include Taiwan and sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and Arunachal Pradesh.
It further highlighted cooperation between China and Pakistan in areas such as defence and space, adding that Beijing has “likely also considered” setting up a military base in Pakistan.
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