China responded to a senior US official’s assertion that they have not made efforts to resolve border tensions with India, stating that a third party should not be involved in resolving the military standoff on the Line of Actual Control.

Donald Lu, a senior US official, stated that China has made aggressive actions along the border in northeastern India, instead of working to resolve the ongoing standoff in Ladakh that started in May 2020. He also emphasized that the US will continue to support India in this matter.

In response to Lu’s statement, a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy said that the US official had made false accusations against China regarding the border issue between China and India. The spokesperson also stated that China strongly objects to any third country trying to interfere in a bilateral issue for geopolitical gain.

The Chinese spokesperson reiterated China’s position that the situation on the Line of Actual Control is generally stable and that resolving the border issue is the responsibility of China and India through dialogue and consultation. They also expressed the hope that the US would take actions that promote peace and stability in the region.

The Chinese spokesperson also mentioned that India and China have been communicating effectively and constructively on border-related matters through diplomatic and military channels. They also stated that both countries are working to transition the border situation from emergency response to normal management and control.

The Indian officials have a different perspective on the situation on the Line of Actual Control. On Thursday, the Indian Army Chief said that the situation along the northern borders with China is stable but unpredictable. He also added that there has been a slight increase in the number of Chinese troops across the contested border in the eastern sector.

During an interview with NDTV while visiting New Delhi for talks to prepare for a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in March, Lu stated that the US has had a long-standing policy of advocating for India and China to solve their border dispute through peaceful negotiations. However, he added that the US has not seen China taking any meaningful steps to resolve the conflict and instead has observed aggressive actions by China along India’s border, including in northeastern states. He specifically mentioned a recent clash on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh on December 9, which resulted in injuries on both sides and occurred when Chinese troops tried to change the status quo at Yangtse near Tawang.