China still hardening position on India border: US secy of defence

'Washington Will Stand By Friends, Uphold Rights'

China continues to harden its position along the borders with India, US secretary of defence Lloyd James Austin said on Saturday, while underlining that Washington will stand by its friends in upholding their rights in the face of Beijing's "war coercive" and "aggressive approach" in the IndoPacific region.

China must desist from its aggressive and illegal approaches to push its territorial claims, Austin said at the ShangriLa Dialogue in Singapore. While noting China is "pushing limits" in the East China Sea and South China Sea, he said: "Further to the west, we're seeing Beijing continue to harden its position along the border that it shares with India."