Mike Pompeo said he talks frequently with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar (File)
Washington:
India has been a great American partner, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, noting that he has frequent discussions with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on a wide range of issues, including the conflict he has had. along the border with China.
Troops from India and China have been stuck in an impasse of more than eight weeks in several areas of eastern Ladakh, including Pangong Tso, the Galwan Valley and the Gogra Hot Spring since May 5. The situation deteriorated last month following clashes in the Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian armies of personnel were killed in action.
“India has been an excellent partner. They are an important partner of ours. I have an excellent relationship with my counterpart from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have talked frequently about a wide range of issues. We have talked about the conflict they’ve had along the border with China. We talked about the risk that comes from the Chinese telecommunications infrastructure there, “Pompeo told reporters.
Mike Pompeo also discussed India’s decision to ban a number of Chinese apps.
India last month banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok and UC Browser, saying they were detrimental to the country’s sovereignty, integrity and security.
“You saw the decision they made to ban dozens of Chinese software companies from operating inside their country on the phones of people operating inside India,” he said. -he declares.
“I think the whole world is uniting around the challenge we are facing and that democracies, that the free nations of the world will together address these challenges. I am very confident of it,” said the top American diplomat.
Responding to a question, Mike Pompeo said that America’s behavior with China has changed due to the change in China’s behavior.
“I think it is worth noting that the reason for this change is the behavior of the Chinese Communist Party. This is important. I am listening to part of the story which – which follows from China – part of the misinformation , and people use language like tit-for “-tat. These are to be titled for tat exchanges, “he said.
“It is America that defends its own people and the world now comes to understand the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. So, to the extent that there has been a change in relations, this is the result direct from the behavior of the Chinese Communist. ” And so, when it stops, we will, “said Mike Pompeo.
