Source Reuters
BEIJING – China has launched a sharp diplomatic rebuke against the United States, accusing Washington of attempting to “thwart” the recent thaw in China-India relations.
The statements, issued by the Chinese Foreign and Defense Ministries on Thursday, come in response to a newly released Pentagon report that suggests Beijing is strategically using border de-escalation to drive a wedge between New Delhi and Washington.
Rejection of Third-Party “Interference”
During a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that China handles its relationship with India from a “strategic and long-term perspective.” He emphasized that the boundary dispute is a strictly bilateral matter.
“The boundary question is a matter between China and India, and the current border situation is generally stable,” Lin said. “We object to any country passing judgment on this issue.”
Beijing’s frustration stems from the 2025 Pentagon Report on Military and Security Developments, which claims that China is “capitalizing” on the reduction of tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to prevent India from deepening its strategic partnership with the U.S.
Pentagon Report Highlights “Core Interests”
The U.S. Department of Defense report, submitted to Congress earlier this week, offers a more skeptical view of the recent China-India disengagement. It suggests that while tactical calm has returned to the border, Beijing has broadened its “core interests” to include the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, placing it alongside sensitive issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The report also cautioned India about China’s “dual-track strategy”—stabilizing the LAC while simultaneously deepening military cooperation and arms sales with Pakistan.
War of Words
The Chinese Defense Ministry was equally blunt, with spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang accusing the U.S. of “maliciously misinterpreting” China’s defense policy.
Key Chinese Arguments:
Fabricated Narratives: China claims the U.S. report is filled with “geopolitical bias” intended to mislead the international community.
Military Supremacy: Beijing argues the U.S. uses the “China threat” as a pretext to maintain its own global military dominance.
Sowing Discord: Officials alleged that Washington is actively trying to provoke confrontation between regional neighbors to serve its own interests in the Indo-Pacific.
Context: A Fragile Thaw
The diplomatic spat occurs as India and China continue to implement a major disengagement agreement reached in October 2024. In recent months, the two nations have seen the resumption of direct flights, simplified visa processes for Chinese technicians entering India, and a general cooling of the military standoff that began in 2020.
While Beijing insists these improvements are a natural result of bilateral diplomacy, Washington remains a vocal skeptic, urging New Delhi to remain wary of China’s long-term regional ambitions.
