China has strongly rejected a recent US Pentagon report that claims Beijing is attempting to improve relations with India in order to weaken the growing strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington. Dismissing the report as misleading and politically motivated, Chinese officials said the assessment was based on false assumptions and aimed at creating divisions in the region. Addressing a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China firmly opposes what he described as distorted narratives about its defence policy. He accused the United States of exaggerating threats to justify its own military presence and strategic influence, adding that such reports undermine regional peace and stability.

Responding to questions on India-China relations, Lin said Beijing is ready to strengthen communication, build mutual trust, expand cooperation and manage differences through dialogue. He stressed that China views its ties with India from a long-term strategic perspective and supports the development of a stable and predictable bilateral relationship. According to him, the situation along the Line of Actual Control is generally stable, with both sides maintaining communication mechanisms to address border-related issues. Lin also reiterated that boundary matters between India and China should be resolved through direct engagement between the two countries, without interference from external parties. He rejected the idea that China’s approach toward India is driven by third-country considerations, calling such interpretations speculative and irresponsible.

However, when questioned about China’s close strategic relationship with Pakistan, Chinese officials avoided giving direct answers. The US report had highlighted expanding China-Pakistan cooperation in defence, space and military infrastructure, raising concerns in New Delhi. Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang criticised the Pentagon’s references to Pakistan as biased and exaggerated but stopped short of clarifying Beijing’s long-term military intentions with Islamabad.

The Pentagon report, submitted annually to the US Congress, also reiterated that China considers several regions as part of its “core interests,” including Taiwan, the South China Sea and Arunachal Pradesh. It noted recent diplomatic engagements between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of efforts to stabilise ties after years of border tensions.The report’s release has triggered renewed geopolitical debate, with China accusing the United States of attempting to obstruct improving India-China relations, while India continues to navigate a careful diplomatic balance amid competing global power dynamics.