BEIJING(National times)- China accused the US on Thursday of distorting its defence policy in an effort to thwart an improvement in China-India ties. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian was responding to a question at a press briefing on whether China might exploit a recent easing of tensions with India over disputed border areas to keep ties between the United States and India from deepening.

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China views its ties with India from a strategic and long-term perspective, Lin said, adding that the border issue was a matter between China and India and “we object to any country passing judgment about this issue”. The Pentagon said in a report on Tuesday that China “probably seeks to capitalize on decreased tension … to stabilize bilateral relations and prevent the deepening of US-India ties”.