China Rejects Pentagon Report On India Ties, Calls It ‘Irresponsible’

India-West News Desk

BEIJING- China on December 25 dismissed a US Pentagon report that linked easing border tensions with India to Beijing’s alleged efforts to counter growing India–US ties, calling the assessment “irresponsible” and rooted in false narratives.

Responding to references on India-China relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing views ties with New Delhi from a “strategic and long-term perspective” and remains committed to stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “The boundary question is a matter between China and India, and the current border situation is generally stable with smooth communication channels,” Lin said at a media briefing in Beijing. He added that China opposes “groundless and irresponsible comments” by third countries.

The response followed the release of the US Department of War’s annual report to Congress titled Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2025. The report said China was likely seeking to capitalize on de-escalating tensions along the LAC to stabilize relations with India and prevent a further deepening of US–India ties.

It referred to a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in October 2024, noting that disengagement agreements at remaining standoff points preceded the talks. The report said the meeting marked the start of monthly high-level engagements covering border management and broader bilateral issues, including direct flights, visa facilitation, and exchanges of academics and journalists.

The Pentagon document also stated that China has expanded the scope of its “core interests” to include Taiwan and sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Separately, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang criticized the report for highlighting China’s defense and space cooperation with Pakistan and for suggesting that Beijing was considering setting up a military base there. “The US releases such reports year after year, grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs,” Zhang said at a separate briefing.

Zhang accused the Pentagon of “maliciously misinterpreting” China’s national defense policy, making “unfounded speculations” about military development, and exaggerating a “Chinese military threat” to mislead the international community. “We express our strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” he said, urging Washington to stop fabricating narratives that provoke confrontation.