New Delhi: After China claimed that the scheduled India-US military exercise would violate border pacts, India on Thursday, August 25 disagreed and asserted that the bilateral event would have no bearing on any such agreements.The 18th edition of the India-US exercise, “Yudh Abhyas”, will be held over two weeks in October in Uttarakhand’s Auli, which is around 50 kilometres from the India-China border as the crow flies.At a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday, China’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, said, “We firmly oppose any third party to meddle in the China-India border issue in any form.” His reply was in answer to a question about the scheduled India-US military exercises.The Chinese spokesperson asserted that “military cooperation of relevant countries, especially on exercises and training activities, should not be targeted at any third party, but rather serve to help maintain regional peace and stability.”He then claimed, “In light of relevant agreements signed by China and India in 1993 and 1996, neither side is allowed to conduct military exercise against the other in areas near the Line of Actual Control.”“It is hoped that the Indian side will strictly abide by the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and the relevant agreements, uphold its commitment to resolving border issues through bilateral channels, and maintain peace and tranquility in the border area with practical actions,” said Tan.A few hours later, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed puzzlement at the Chinese spokesperson’s remarks. “I don’t understand the reference to third parties,” he said.Bagchi noted that India had also stated that both neighbours “should stick to agreements”, which has not happened.India has blamed China’s violation of bilateral border pacts as the key reason for the military stand-off in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, which is still ongoing. The scheduled venue of Auli falls within the middle sector of the Line of Actual Control, while the remaining stand-off points are in the western sector.“The India-US exercises are something completely different, and I don’t know what colour has been given that it is targeting there or violating existing agreements. I have no such information that I would be able to substantially agree to that,” said Bagchi.
