China is hardening its stance along India’s borders, according to US Defense Secretary Lloyd James Austin, who also stated that America stands behind its allies as they defend their rights while Beijing pursues a “war like” and “aggressive” strategy to its territorial claims.
Austin stated at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that China is approaching the lands it claims in the South China Sea in an aggressive and illegal manner, as well as pursuing its illegal maritime objectives. Further to the west, we see Beijing hardening its stance along its shared borders with India, he said.
Since May 5, 2020, when a violent fight between the two sides erupted in the Pangong lake area, Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in a tense border stalemate in eastern Ladakh. In the border areas with India, China has also been building bridges and other infrastructure such as highways and residential units.
China also has maritime border conflicts with Vietnam and Japan, among other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Our mutual defence commitments remain steadfast,” Austin stated.
His remarks come just days after a top US general described China’s defence installations near the Indian border in Ladakh as “alarming,” and described Chinese operations in the region as “eye-opening.” Concerned about China’s infrastructure build-up, US Army Pacific Commanding General Charles A Flynn, who was in India on Wednesday, also said the Chinese Communist Party’s “destabilising and corrosive” behaviour in the Indo-Pacific area is simply not helpful.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
💫FOLLOW US FOR MORE UPDATES. ❌WE DO NOT HAVE IRRITATING AND SPAMMY NEWSLETTERS. ✅EVERYTHING IS AND WILL BE FREE FOREVER. SEE YOU AGAIN IN YOUR STORIES AND FEED 🙂
