China Rejects Pentagon Report, Calls Claims on India Ties “Discord-Sowing”
China on Thursday rejected a recent Pentagon report that alleged Beijing might take advantage of eased border tensions with India to weaken US-India relations, calling the claims misleading and strategically motivated. The Foreign Ministry’s response comes amid rising geopolitical sensitivity over China’s global posture and deeper Washington-New Delhi ties.
At a daily press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian vigorously dismissed the Pentagon’s assessment, saying it distorts China’s defence policy and sows discord between China and other countries. He said the report appears designed to justify continued US military supremacy rather than promote regional stability.
The Pentagon document, submitted to US Congress on Dec. 23, suggested China could “probably seek to capitalise on decreased tension” along the disputed Line of Actual Control with India to stabilise bilateral ties while deterring the deepening of US-India cooperation. Lin rejected that characterisation, emphasising that China views its relationship with India “from a strategic height and a long-term perspective” and that border issues are strictly bilateral matters.
A separate defence ministry spokesman also criticised the report’s broader claims about China’s defence and cooperation with Pakistan, calling them biased and speculative.
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Lin added that China is prepared to strengthen communication and mutual trust with India and properly manage differences through bilateral dialogue, underscoring a focus on stability with its neighbour.
His comments illustrate Beijing’s sensitivity to external interpretations of its foreign policy at a time when the US is deepening strategic engagement with India under broader Indo-Pacific policy frameworks. Analysts say the dispute highlights persistent distrust between Washington and Beijing over regional influence and alliance networks. The Pentagon’s full report is expected to be debated in Congress in early 2026.
What happens next?
China’s Ministry of Defence and the Pentagon may engage in further public exchanges as both sides respond to global scrutiny of strategic intentions.
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