China Rejects Pentagon Report, Says India Border Situation ‘Stable’

Beijing: China on Thursday strongly rejected a report by the United States Department of Defense that accused Beijing of exploiting reduced border tensions with India to weaken US–India relations while simultaneously strengthening defence ties with Pakistan.

Dismissing the allegations as misleading, China accused Washington of spreading false narratives to create discord between Beijing and other countries and maintained that the situation along the India–China border remains stable.

Responding to queries on the Pentagon report submitted to the US Congress, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the document distorted China’s defence policy and was aimed at justifying Washington’s military dominance. “The Pentagon’s report misrepresents China’s defence strategy, sows discord between China and other countries, and seeks a pretext to maintain US military supremacy. China firmly opposes the report,” Lin told a media briefing.

The US report had described China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh as part of its expanding “core interests,” placing the Indian state alongside Taiwan and key maritime disputes within Beijing’s long-term national strategy. It also noted that in October 2024, Indian leaders announced an agreement with China to disengage from remaining standoff sites along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) shortly before President Xi Jinping met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.

According to the Pentagon’s assessment, China was likely attempting to capitalise on reduced tensions along the LAC to stabilise bilateral ties with India and prevent closer US–India strategic cooperation. However, it added that persistent mutual distrust and other unresolved issues were likely to constrain the relationship.

Addressing China’s ties with India, Lin said Beijing viewed and managed its relationship with New Delhi from a “strategic and long-term perspective.” “China is ready to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation, properly manage differences, and promote a sound and stable bilateral relationship with India,” he said.

On the situation along the LAC, Lin reiterated that the boundary issue was strictly a bilateral matter. “The current border situation between China and India is generally stable, with smooth communication channels. China opposes groundless and irresponsible comments by relevant countries,” he added.

His remarks follow the high-level meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi in Kazan in October 2024, where both sides reached a landmark agreement to disengage from remaining standoff points along the LAC. The agreement paved the way for regular monthly high-level engagements between the two countries.

China–Pakistan Defence Ties

The Pentagon report also claimed that China was considering establishing a military base in Pakistan and highlighted expanding cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad in defence and space sectors. Rejecting these assertions, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said the report constituted serious interference in China’s internal affairs.

“The US report maliciously misinterprets China’s national defence policy, makes unfounded speculation about China’s military development, and smears the legitimate activities of the Chinese armed forces,” Zhang said, declining to directly comment on allegations related to defence cooperation with Pakistan.

Zhang further accused the report of reflecting geopolitical bias and exaggerating the so-called “China military threat” to mislead the international community. “We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” he said, urging the United States to stop fabricating false narratives and fuelling confrontation and antagonism.