India Dismisses Chinese Objections On Joint Military Exercises With US

"India exercises with whomsoever it chooses to and we do not give veto to third countries on this issue," the foreign ministry said

India today said it would not allow "anybody to veto" the ties with US, dismissing China's objections to the ongoing joint military exercises in Uttarakhand's Auli. "India exercises with whomsoever it chooses to and we do not give veto to third countries on this issue," a foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters this evening.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the joint exercises with the US in Auli has "nothing to do with the 1993 and 1996 agreements" with China.

"But since these were raised by the Chinese side, let me emphasise that the Chinese side needs to reflect and think about its own breach of these agreements of 1993 and 1996," Mr Bagchi said, responding to questions on the issue.

The 1993 agreement with Beijing deals with maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control with China and the border areas. The 1996 pact was about confidence building measures.