Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian

China opposes relevant country's groundless and irresponsible comments on China-India ties, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday in response to claims made in a recent Pentagon report, which was also slammed by the Chinese Defense Ministry as being filled with erroneous perceptions of China and geopolitical biases.

"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," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Thursday in response to a question by a Russian reporter. 

The reporter asked what is the US trying to achieve by such claims in the latest Pentagon report claiming that China probably seeks to "capitalize" on decreased tensions along the border with India to "prevent the deepening of US-India ties," against the background of the latest developments in China-India relations earlier evoked nervous reaction within US Congress.

Lin said that the Pentagon's report distorts China's defense policy, sows discord between China and other countries, and aims at finding a pretext for the US to maintain its military supremacy. China firmly opposes the report.

China views and handles its relations with India from a strategic height and a long-term 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, Lin said.

When asked to comment on the Pentagon report, titled the 2025 Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said at a regular press conference on Thursday that the US issues such reports year after year, brazenly interfering in China's internal affairs, maliciously distorting China's defense policy, groundlessly speculating about the development of China's military capabilities, and slandering the normal operations of the Chinese armed forces. The entire report is filled with erroneous perceptions of China and geopolitical biases, and it hypes up the so-called "China military threat" in order to mislead the international community. We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, he said.

China steadfastly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, adheres to the military strategy of active defense, and advances the modernization of national defense and the armed forces with high quality. These efforts are entirely aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests. China remains a force for peace, stability, and progress in the world, Zhang said.

The Chinese military actively implements the Global Security Initiative, operates strictly in accordance with domestic and international laws, defends its legitimate rights and interests in a reasonable, positive, and measured manner, strives to provide international public security goods, and works together with the armed forces of other countries to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the spokesperson said.

Zhang urged the US side to develop a correct understanding of China, view China's development and the growth of its military objectively, cease fabricating false narratives, stop instigating confrontation, and avoid leading relations between the two countries and two militaries astray.



Global Times