China asserts it will protect ally Pakistan’s core interests
BEIJING: Two days ahead of his informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India, President Xi Jinping said China was closely following the situation in Kashmir and will support Pakistan on issues related to its “core interests”.
Xi’s remarks, made during a meeting with visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, reflected China’s consistent support to its allweather ally Pakistan – an issue that emerged as an irritant in the run-up to the second India-China informal summit on October 11-12.
After Khan called for efforts to avoid the deterioration of the situation in Kashmir, Xi said the “right and wrong of the situation was clear”, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. Xi added that the two parties should resolve the dispute through peaceful dialogue.
The Kashmir issue also found mention in a joint statement issued after the Xi-Khan meeting, which said the Chinese leader “reiterated solidarity with Pakistan in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty, independence and security”.
The statement further said China “opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation” and that the Chinese side is “paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu & Kashmir”.
In a swift response, India’s external affairs ministry said Kashmir is an integral part of the country and it was not for other nations to comment on India’s internal affairs. Khan was on a two-day visit that was primarily aimed at seeking China’s support on the Kashmir issue.
China also sought to play down other irritants that have hit bilateral relations with India, with a top Chinese diplomat saying Beijing isn’t worried about India holding a large-scale military exercise in the “disputed eastern sector” as it hasn’t taken place.
After formally announcing Xi’s visit to India, vice foreign minister Luo Zhaohui told a special briefing: “We have no worry at all because that is not true.” He was responding to a question by the Chinese media on whether Beijing was concerned that the military exercise in the “disputed eastern sector” could impact the summit.
To a question from HT on whether he was referring to the military exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as south Tibet, Luo said: “As far as we know, the so-called military exercise is not a fact, it is not true.”
“Second, the region you mentioned is a sensitive region and we don’t want to hear that reference,” Luo said, seemingly setting aside, even dousing, a controversy ahead of the visit.
The exercise in question is the Indian Army’s “Him Vijay” drill, taking place 100km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. News reports from India said it is the biggest exercise to test the combat capabilities of new integrated battle groups.
In New Delhi, people familiar with developments also played down the matter, saying the Indian Army hadn’t formally announced any drill in Arunachal Pradesh. Though Luo denied knowledge of the exercise, Chinese academics said Beijing isn’t pleased with the drill as it is in an area it considers disputed.