Attempt to sow discord with India, maintain military supremacy: China trashes Pentagon report
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the US report "sows discord between China and other countries" and aims at finding a "pretext for the US to maintain its military supremacy".
New Delhi: China on Thursday strongly rejected a Pentagon report that accused Beijing of trying to weaken India-US ties by taking advantage of eased border tensions with India. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that the US report "sows discord between China and other countries".
Lin, in a statement, said that the Pentagon's report not only distorts China's defence policy but also aims at finding a "pretext for the US to maintain its military supremacy".
Lin also stated that Beijing views and handles its relations with New Delhi 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," he said.
'US trying to mislead international community'
Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang also slammed the Pentagon report, which also pointed out at China's deepening ties with Pakistan in sectors such as defence and space, citing Beijing's reported plans to set up a military base in Islamabad.
Zhang further said that the Pentagon report maliciously misinterpreted China's national defence policy, made unfounded speculations about China's military development, slandering and smearing the normal actions of the Chinese military.
He urged the US to stop spreading false narratives and provoking confrontation, saying the report is full of erroneous understandings of China and geopolitical biases and is trying to mislead the international community.
What Pentagon report claimed
In its annual report to Congress on Tuesday on 'Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025', the US Department of War said China is possibly trying to capitalise on the defused tensions along the Actual Control (LAC) with India to prevent the stregthening of US-India ties.
The report also claimed that China's leadership has extended the term 'core interest' to "cover Taiwan and China's sovereignty claims amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh."
Highlighting the cooperation between China and Pakistan, the report said that Beining is actively considering setting up a base in Pakistan.