The Biden administration pledged support for India in the wake of border disputes with China and accused Beijing of being "provocative" against US allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The government also vowed to continue working to ensure their security.
The US assurance was given in response to a question from a reporter at a Pentagon briefing regarding clashes between Chinese and Indian troops in Arunachal Pradesh. The reporter specifically wanted to know if the Pentagon was worried that this could result in a larger military conflict and if the US was willing to give India more military support to help them deal with China's military threats."We will continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the security of our partners," Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said.
Ryder said the US fully supports "India's ongoing efforts to de-escalate this situation. The (US) department of defence continues to closely watch developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the India-China border. We have seen the PRC continue to amass forces and build military infrastructure along the so-called LAC,” he added.
The US support for India in its recent travails with China has been unequivocal, a far cry from the days when it typically advised India to sort out issues with its neighbours. Beijing is said to have recently warned American officials to not interfere with its relationship with India, advice that Washington saw as China trying to erode "US and partner influence", according to a Pentagon report submitted to US lawmakers last month.