China plays down general's warning to India

India Thursday raised with China the statement of a Chinese general warning India against stirring up "new trouble" on the border and was told that it was "not reflective" of the official view.

India's reaction followed a statement by Major General Luo Yuan to reporters in Beijing that the "Indian side should not provoke new problems and increase military deployment at the border areas and stir up new trouble".

Luo, deputy director general of the world military research department at a People's Liberation Army academy, was quoted as saying that "India is the only country in the world that says that it is developing its military power because of China's military threat".

"So, I believe that India should be very cautious in what it does and what it says."

Luo's statement came ahead of the Beijing visit by Defence Minister A.K. Antony for high-level talks.

Official sources in New Delhi said the "matter of statement by Chinese general was promptly raised by India with China".

The Chinese side said they were looking forward to the Indian defence minister's visit and were "conveyed understanding that the statement is not reflective of Chinese official view".

Luo also said that "there is still problem of 90,000 sq km of territory still occupied by the Indian side. These are the problems left over from history and we should look at it with cool head".

India and China concluded the 16th round of border talks by their Special Representatives last week. Antony is the first Indian defence minister in seven years to visit China. He is to hold formal talks with his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan Friday.