Indo-China LAC tension has escalated: US Indo-Pacific Command Chief -

Washington/New Delhi/Beijing: The United States has claimed that the India-China tension has festered to a level that had not occurred before in the last four years. Admiral John Aquilino, chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command, gave this information during a hearing in front of the US Congress. On the one hand, China has claimed that the dispute will be resolved in the upcoming 15th round of negotiations. At the same time, the United States is repeatedly underlining the threat posed by China to India. Therefore, there are clear indications that the Indian cooperation has become important for both the United States and China, against the background of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The 15th round of negotiations between India and China to resolve the Ladakh border dispute is set to start on Friday. China seems to have softened its stand against India, leaving its aggressive position. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had appealed that the border dispute should not affect the comprehensive bilateral relations between the two countries. After that, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had claimed that India and China have common interests and there are huge opportunities for both countries for mutual cooperation. At the same time, he also expressed confidence that a solution acceptable to both countries would emerge from the 15th round of talks.

The change in the Chinese stand appears to be linked to the Ukraine war. The United States has imposed stringent sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine. These sanctions could also affect the countries trading with Russia and the Russian economy. China is a major trading partner of Russia. Therefore, the United States threatened to target the Chinese companies having trade cooperation with Russia. It is claimed that this has distracted Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China cannot decide to freeze trade cooperation with Russia under any circumstances. At the same time, it can neither ignore the US sanctions. This could affect the exports worth billions of dollars going to the United States. In such circumstances, continuing with cooperation with India is in the Chinese interest. Keeping this in mind, China has sent the message that the border dispute can be resolved amicably. But Indian border dispute with China is in the Interest of the United States. In that case, India will attach more importance to strategic cooperation with the United States. Therefore, in the last few days, the United States has warned India about the rising Chinese threat.

Statements of Admiral John Aquilino, chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command, underline the same issue. While speaking during the hearing in front of the US Congress, Ely Ratner of the US defence department also said that the United States is closely monitoring the tension on the LAC in Ladakh between India and China. Ratner claimed that India had to face hardships due to China and suggested that the United States had supplied sensitive information and other necessary materials to India immediately.