China accuses U.S. of undermining improving ties with India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, Aug. 31, 2025
Photo: Indian Prime Minister's Office via AP

China has accused the United States of misrepresenting its defense policy in an effort to hinder improving relations between Beijing and New Delhi, as regional tensions ease along their disputed border.

Responding to a question at a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected suggestions that China might seek to exploit the recent thaw in border tensions with India to weaken India’s ties with Washington.

China views its relationship with India from a “strategic and long-term perspective,” Lin said, adding that border issues were a bilateral matter.

“We object to any country passing judgment on this issue,” he added.

US report: China may use India border thaw to curb US-India ties

China probably seeks to capitalize from deescalating tensions along the Line of Actual Control with India to stabilize bilateral relations and prevent the deepening of US-India ties, according to a report by the US Department of War.

In its annual report to Congress on Tuesday on 'Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2025', the department said that in October 2024, Indian leadership announced an agreement with China.

The agreement was to disengage from remaining standoff sites along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), two days before a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

The Xi-Modi meeting marked the onset of monthly high-level engagements between the two countries, where parties discussed border management and next steps for the bilateral relationship, including direct flights, visa facilitation, and the exchange of academics and journalists, it said.

"China probably seeks to capitalise on decreased tension along the LAC to stabilise bilateral relations and prevent the deepening of US-India ties; however, India probably remains sceptical of China's actions and motives. Continued mutual distrust and other irritants almost certainly limit the bilateral relationship," the report said.

Wider context

In the last few months, India and China have initiated a series of measures to normalize their relations after ending the over four-year military face-off along the LAC in eastern Ladakh in October last year.

In July, India resumed granting tourist visas for Chinese nationals.

India and China have, in recent months, agreed on several people-centric steps to reset their ties. These include agreement to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, resumption of direct flights, commemoration of 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and visa facilitation.

The direct flights between the two countries resumed in October.

In August, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi agreed to deepen bilateral ties to combat pressing challenges and work towards a "fair" solution to the festering border issue.

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