Key Points
- China called a new US Pentagon report “irresponsible” and misleading. The US claims China is using India to block American influence.
- China and India have improved ties recently to counter Trump’s trade war.
- Prime Minister Modi visited China this year for the first time since 2017.
- Beijing believes the US is just making excuses for its own military power.
China is firing back at the United States, accusing the Pentagon of trying to sabotage the relationship between Beijing and New Delhi. On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called the latest US approach “irresponsible.” He argued that a recent Pentagon report misrepresented China’s defense policies to stir up tensions between China and its neighbors.
The report in question claims that China is only trying to play nice with India to block the US from building a stronger bond with the Indian government. Lin Jian told reporters that this simply isn’t true. He stated that China wants to keep its relationship with India on a “steady and sound” path. He also mentioned that the situation at the border between the two countries is now generally stable after years of tension.
Lately, China and India have made a real effort to get along better. Just this past August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to China for the first time in seven years.
In October, the two countries even resumed direct flights, something that hadn’t happened in over five years. This sudden push to fix their friendship comes at a time when both nations are feeling the pressure of President Trump’s trade wars.
With the US imposing new tariffs and trade restrictions, Beijing and New Delhi have found more reasons to work together rather than fight.
Beijing also slammed other parts of the US report. The Pentagon claimed that China is currently in the middle of a “historic military buildup” that makes the American homeland vulnerable. China sees this as a cheap excuse. They argue that the US is just trying to find a reason to keep its own massive military presence in the region and maintain its global dominance.
By framing China as a threat to India, Beijing says the US is acting like a middleman that nobody asked for, hoping to keep the two Asian powers at odds.
