China emphasizes peace in border relations with India

The Chinese military hopes India can work with China to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border regions and together maintain the positive development of bilateral ties, the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman of the ministry, made the comments in response to India's Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat's recent statement on China being the biggest security threat to India at the moment.

Wu said the comment by Rawat has hyped up the so-called "Chinese military threat", which is in serious violation of the mutual non-aggression agreement proposed by heads of states from both countries.

This rhetoric, which can incite geopolitical confrontation, is irresponsible and dangerous, Wu said, adding the Chinese military resolutely opposes this kind of action.

"China has a clear and consistent stance on the China-India border issue," he said. "Chinese border troops have an unshakeable determination to safeguard national sovereignty and security, but at the same time they will maintain peace and tranquility in the border regions and make great effort to deescalate tension in the area."

"As neighboring countries, we hope the India side can work with China to jointly safeguard regional peace and tranquility in the border regions, and together maintain the positive development of bilateral ties," he said.