China has sharply criticized a U.S. Pentagon report that posits Beijing is utilizing a calmer border situation with India to undermine relations between Washington and New Delhi, while simultaneously deepening defense ties with Pakistan. Beijing insists this U.S. report is designed to “sow discord” through false narratives and misrepresentations of its defense policies.
During a media briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the Pentagon’s report is an attempt to “distort China’s defence policy, sow discord between China and other countries, and aims at finding a pretext for the U.S. to maintain its military supremacy.” He unequivocally stated China’s opposition to the report, viewing it as part of a pattern of U.S. interference and fabrications aimed at misinterpreting China’s military activities.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang further elaborated, calling the report an example of “erroneous views” and “strong geopolitical bias.” He argued that the U.S. exaggerates the so-called “Chinese military threat” to mislead the international community. Zhang resisted commenting directly on specific details of China-Pakistan defense cooperation but condemned the report for its baseless assumptions and slanderous remarks about China’s armed forces. He called on the U.S. to cease its provocations and the creation of confrontational narratives.
Concerning India, Lin Jian reiterated China’s commitment to a strategic and long-term partnership. He expressed readiness to “strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, and properly handle differences with India, and advance a sound and stable bilateral relationship.” He characterized the boundary situation along the Line of Actual Control as generally stable with effective communication, and denounced “groundless and irresponsible comments” from outside parties. The U.S. report had notably included Arunachal Pradesh within China’s territorial claims and detailed significant China-Pakistan military and space collaboration.