Chinese government today called Indo-US logistics agreement 'normal cooperation.'
China today downplayed the Indo-IS logistics defence pact as "normal cooperation" even as its state media warned that India's attempts to join US' alliance could "irritate" China, Pakistan, or even Russia and bring "strategic troubles" for New Delhi.
"We have noted relevant reports. Hope that this cooperation between India and US would work to promote stability and development of region," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.
The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement signed between India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter facilitates provision of logistical support, supplies and services between the US and Indian militaries.
However, an editorial in the state-run Global Times, which was written ahead of the signing of the logistics agreement in Washington, said India may lose strategic independence if it leans towards the US.
"This is undoubtedly a leap forward in US-India military cooperation. US media highly applauded this deal, with Forbes hailing it as a 'war pact' and believing that India is shifting away from Russia, its Cold War ally, towards a new alliance with the US," the editorial said. The newspaper is published by the ruling Communist Party run People's Daily group of publications.
"If India hastily joins the US alliance system, it may irritate China, Pakistan or even Russia. It may not make India feel safer, but will bring strategic troubles to itself and make itself a centre of geopolitical rivalries in Asia," the editorial said.
Meanwhile, another article in Global Times said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lost "patience and switched to the expected hardline tone of hostility."
Referring to Modi's comments on Balochistan for the first time, the article said India is raising it to divert attention from the tense situation prevailing in Kashmir.
"After reluctant attempts to revitalise Indo-Pak relations, Narendra Modi, now in his third year as Indian Prime Minister, has lost patience and switched to the expected hardline tone of hostility,"