China has warned US officials not to interfere in its relations with India: Pentagon

 

• In a section on the China-India border, the Pentagon said that during 2021, the PLA would maintain the deployment of forces and continue to build infrastructure along the LAC

The Pentagon has said in a report sent to the Congress that China has warned US officials not to interfere in its relations with India.

During their standoff with India at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Chinese officials tried to downplay the seriousness of the crisis, maintaining stability of the border and keeping the standoff from harming other areas of their bilateral ties with India. Beijing's intention to stop was emphasized, the Pentagon said in a report on Tuesday.

In its latest report, the Pentagon said, "The PRC (People's Republic of China) seeks to stoke border tensions to prevent India from partnering more closely with the United States. PRC officials have warned US officials that they Do not interfere in PRC's relations with India." For congress on Chinese military build-up.

In a section on the China-India border, the Pentagon said that during 2021, the PLA would maintain the deployment of forces and continue to build infrastructure along the LAC. There has been minimal progress in the talks as both sides oppose losing perceived gains on the border, it said.

In early May 2020, Chinese and Indian troops faced skirmishes involving rocks, batons and clubs wrapped in barbed wire at several locations along the LAC. The resulting standoff triggered a build-up of forces on both sides of the border.

It added, "Each country demanded the other withdraw its forces and return to status quo ante before the standoff, but neither China nor India agreed to those terms."

"The PRC blamed the standoff on Indian infrastructure construction, which it perceived as an encroachment on PRC territory, while India accused China of launching aggressive incursions into India's territory."

Since the 2020 clash, the PLA has maintained a consistent force presence and continues to build infrastructure along the LAC.

The report said that the Galwan Valley incident of 2020 was the deadliest conflict between the two countries in the last 46 years.

According to PRC officials, patrols clashed violently in the Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020, resulting in the deaths of approximately twenty Indian soldiers and four PLA soldiers.