BEIJING: A Chinese military delegation on Wednesday wrapped up a visit to three of India’s closest neighbours - the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal - to boost bilateral defence ties, deepening relations in a region that New Delhi considers its sphere of influence.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) delegation held “in-depth discussions” on bilateral defence cooperation and reached various points of “consensus” during a visit from March 4 to 13, China’s defence ministry said in a statement, without elaborating. The talks also focused on regional and security issues, the statement said, adding it “enriched the content of defence cooperation” between China and the three countries.
Ties between Beijing and New Delhi have grown more tense in recent months, strained by disputes over how their borders should be drawn to the passage of Chinese survey vessels in the Indian Ocean. In 2020, relations nosedived after 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers were killed during a border skirmish.
On Tuesday, India rejected Chinese objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s weekend visit to Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas, which China claims to be a part of southern Tibet.
Adding to India’s unease, China has been trying to boost ties with nations in the Indian Ocean since the world’s second-biggest economy reopened its borders after three years of self-imposed pandemic curbs.
In body camera video released on Thursday by the Canton Police Department, officers are seen apprehending the man
Voter turnout around the halfway mark was 39%, an Election Commission spokesperson said
The U.N. has said nearly 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, need aid and some 8 million have fled their...
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director, Wes Ball. — HollywoodLONDON: “Kingdom of the Planet of the...
The influx of weapons could improve Kyiv’s chances of averting a major Russian breakthrough in the east
The Perlmutters gave at least $21 million to America First Action Inc in 2020
