China on Thursday pushed back strongly against a recent US assessment, accusing Washington of deliberately mischaracterising Beijing’s defence intentions to disrupt improving relations between China and India. Beijing rejected the suggestion that it was attempting to use a reduction in border tensions with India as a way to slow or weaken the growing strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington.
Responding to questions during a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China approaches its ties with India from a long-term and strategic perspective. Quoting Reuters, Lin emphasised that the boundary dispute between China and India is a bilateral matter and should be handled exclusively by the two countries concerned. He added that Beijing firmly opposes any third country making judgments or offering commentary on the issue.
Lin’s remarks came shortly after the US Pentagon released a report suggesting that China was likely seeking to take advantage of easing tensions along the India-China border. According to the Pentagon’s assessment, Beijing may be aiming to stabilise relations with New Delhi to prevent a deeper alignment between India and the United States. The observation formed part of a broader review of China’s military posture, defence priorities, and regional strategy.
Although India and China reached an agreement last year to disengage troops from remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, signs of unresolved tension remain. After a period of relative calm, disagreements have resurfaced over Arunachal Pradesh, a northeastern Indian state that China claims as its own territory.
A recent Pentagon report submitted to the US Congress identified Arunachal Pradesh as one of China’s “core interests”, placing it alongside Taiwan and Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. The report warned that the region could become a major flashpoint in future India-China relations, given the sensitivity surrounding sovereignty and border claims.
The report also linked China’s stance on Arunachal Pradesh—referred to by Beijing as southern Tibet or Zangnan—to its broader national objective of achieving “great rejuvenation” by 2049. As part of this long-term vision, the Pentagon said, China aims to operate at a higher global level and build a “world-class military” capable of winning modern wars.
India has consistently rejected China’s position, reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of India. New Delhi has also pointed out that China’s claim rests on its refusal to recognise the McMahon Line, a boundary drawn in 1914 between British India and Tibet, which China disputes despite its historical acceptance by the parties involved at the time.
Recent incidents have underscored the sensitivity of the issue. Last month, an Indian citizen, Prema Thongdok, was detained for 18 hours during a layover in Shanghai while travelling from London to Japan. She alleged that Chinese officials declared her Indian passport invalid because it listed her birthplace as Arunachal Pradesh and denied her basic facilities, including food, until she contacted the Indian consulate through a friend.
Earlier this week, another episode drew attention when a YouTuber was detained in China after stating in a video that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. These incidents have reinforced concerns in New Delhi that tensions over the region continue to persist despite diplomatic efforts to ease border friction.
