Mistrust between China, India at an all-time high, says top US admiral
The admiral told the Senate Armed Services Committee that China's activities in the IOR threaten the stability and peace of the region.
Chinese actions in IOR threaten peace and stability in the region, the admiral said | Photo Credit: AP
Washington DC: At a time when the resolution of complete standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains work-in-progress, a top US admiral has said that the mistrust between India and China is at an all-time high. Admiral John C Aquilino, on Tuesday, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that China's activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), as well as lack of transparency, threaten the peace and stability in the region.
"The mistrust between China and India is at an all-time high. In addition to the rupture of bilateral relations as a result of the LAC (Line of Actual Control) skirmish, India is deeply suspicious of Chinese activities as part of the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative," Aquilino said, news agency PTI quoted.
"China's posture initiatives in both Gwadar, Pakistan, and Hambantota, Sri Lanka, also cause India concern. As is the case across the Indo-Pacific, PRC's lack of transparency and duplicitous actions in the Indian Ocean region threaten stability and security in the region," he said in a written response to questions raised by the members of the Committee.
US-India military relationship at its best level: Aquilino
The admiral also highlighted that the US-India military relationship is at its best level in years, and added that the recent actions by China have highlighted the threat that Beijing's actions pose to all the countries including India. He also stressed that his priorities would be to 'support India's defence transformation through exchanges' and 'increase military-to-military contacts throughout standing dialogues, senior leader contacts, and working-level exchanges'.
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"The conclusion of enabling agreements over the past several years has allowed us to operate more closely, and we are able to work together more than ever before to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific," Aquilino said.