Simplistic to say China supports Pakistan, says Beijing's Consul General

China's Consul General in Kolkata explained Tuesday that it was "simplistic" to say Beijing supported Pakistan, the news agency ANI reported.

"I would say that China has (a) good relationship with Pakistan as we do with many other countries, including India. Right now, we have (a) good relationship with India," ANI quoted Consul General Ma Zhanwu as saying.

These comments come days after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing "always opposed linking terrorism with any certain country." He was responding to a White House official's remarks that China could play a helpful role in convincing Pakistan that it was in its national interest to crack down on safe havens for terrorists.

"We don't agree to place the responsibility of anti-terrorism on a certain country," he said. "Countries should strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation on the basis of mutual respect instead of finger-pointing at each other," he added.

Earlier this month, after US President Donald Trump blasted Islamabad for squandering billions of American aid meant to flush out terrorism - and pledged to give it no more money - the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended Pakistan.

"Pakistan has made very outstanding contributions to the global cause of counter-terrorism. The international community should acknowledge that," ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.

ON DOKLAM

Consul General Ma Zhanwu said today that Doklam, the site of a months-long standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies, was "an old page," ANI reported.

He said China hoped to work with India to "turn a new page of further growth and development of the bilateral relationship, including the field of economy and trade," the news agency quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, India Today has learned from top sources that around 800 to 900 troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) continue to be positioned short of the Doklam plateau. However, these soldiers are in Chinese territory.