‘Boundary question is bilateral matter,’ says China after US supports India

After US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that America “will stand with India as they confront threats to their sovereignty, liberty”, a rattled China said “there’s no space for a third party to intervene”.

Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark T Esper arrived in New Delhi on Monday for India-US 2+2 talks.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Pompeo held talks and the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh was discussed.

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“The US will stand with India in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and its liberty… Our nations are committed to working together into expanding our partnerships across many fronts,” Pompeo said.

China said “the boundary question is a bilateral matter between China and India”.

In a statement released by the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, it said, “The boundary question is a bilateral matter between China and India. The two sides have been discussing disengagement and deescalation in the border areas through diplomatic and military channels. China and India have the wisdom and ability to handle their differences properly. There’s no space for a third party to intervene.”

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China slammed the US and said it “resolutely opposes” America’s behaviour of “engaging in unilateralism and bullying”, and “hyping up the so-called ‘Chinese threat’”.

“It is known to all that China has been unswervingly committed to peaceful development and developed friendly cooperation with our neighbours based on mutual respect. China has always upheld multilateralism and remained committed to maintaining an international system with the United Nations at its core and an international order based on international law. China resolutely opposes behaviour of engaging in unilateralism and bullying. By hyping up the so-called ‘China threat’, the US is in fact making pretexts for maintaining its global hegemony and containing China’s development,” the Chinese Embassy said.

Today’s U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial was a success. The bond between our nations is built on the foundation of a longstanding friendship, partnership, and vibrant democratic traditions. Thank you @DrSJaishankar, @EsperDoD, and @rajnathsingh for yet another successful dialogue. pic.twitter.com/h9fy6c7lYz

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 27, 2020