'Provocations Happen On LAC On Regular Basis': USA Doubts China's Commitment To Border Talks With India

The Biden Administration's representative for South and Central Asia has emphasised that the United States advocates for a peaceful resolution of the Indo-China border dispute through direct negotiations between the two nations.

However, the representative stated that there are minimal indications that Beijing is approaching these talks with sincerity and goodwill.

“Our position on India's border dispute with China is long-standing. We support a resolution of that border dispute through a negotiated settlement and through direct conversations between the two countries,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu told PTI in an interview.

“Having said that, we see little evidence that the Chinese government is seriously approaching these talks with a sense of goodwill. What we see is the opposite. We see provocations that happen on the line of actual control on a pretty regular basis,” Lu said.

India can count on the United States' standing with India as it faces the challenge of its northern neighbour, said the senior State Department official, reported PTI.

“We demonstrated that resolve in 2020 during the Galwan crisis, and we continue to find opportunities to cooperate with India on information but also on military equipment, exercises and that will go forward into the years ahead,” he said.

The Centre for a New American Security, an American think-tank, stated in a recent report that the growing possibility of conflict between India and China along their border could affect the US and its Indo-Pacific strategy.

The report by Lisa Curtis and Derek Grossman advises the US government to closely monitor and be prepared to respond quickly to future India-China border crises, as the US considers India's role in the Indo-Pacific and how to increase cooperation.

The report suggests that the US should elevate Indian territorial disputes with China to the same level as Beijing's assertiveness against other US allies in the region and reflect this in all national security-related documents and speeches to help deter and respond to further Chinese aggression.

“Offer India the sophisticated military technology it requires to defend its borders and initiate co-production and co-development of military equipment.

"Assist India in strengthening its maritime and naval capacity, and conduct joint intelligence reviews with India to align assessments of Chinese plans and intentions along the LAC and enhance coordination with Indian officials on contingency planning in the event of a future India-China conflict,” it said.

“Criticise Beijing's efforts at land-grabbing in multilateral forums, including the UN, Shangri-La Dialogue, G20, and East Asia Summit.

"Message Pakistan—and enlist help from Islamabad's other important partners to convey similar points—about the need to stay neutral in the event of a potential future India-China border flare-up. And be prepared to extend full support to India, in the event of another border crisis or conflict,” recommended the think-tank, according to the report.