'China has nothing to fear from Indo-US defence pact'

Washington, August 31

China has nothing to fear from stronger ties between India and the US after the two countries inked a key logistics defence pact, the Obama Administration has said.

“Broadly speaking, a deepening, stronger, more cooperative bilateral relationship with India is not something that anybody should fear or worry about,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference here on Tuesday.

Kirby was responding to a question on China’s reaction to the defence pact between India and the US that would enable their militaries to use each other’s assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

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“We both are democracies, we both have incredible opportunities and influence on the global stage, and a better relationship between the United States and India is not just good for our two countries, not just good for the region, it’s good for the world,” he said.

“There’s already a tremendous partnership between the United States and India which cuts across quite a few sectors and it’s not just security and defence related. It’s economic, trade and information and technology sharing,” he said in response to a question.

“It is a pretty full and complete, comprehensive relationship and it’s one that we are committed to deepening and strengthening and I think that’s why the secretary of defence’s counterpart is here. It’s why the secretary (of state) and the secretary of commerce, (Penny) Pritzker, are there in New Delhi,” he said. PTI