'China will not sit still,' state-run daily responds to India missile test

Pakistan should have those privileges in nuclear development that India has, says editorial

Days after India test-fired Agni-IV, China's state-run daily Global Times' editorial cautioned India that China will not sit still if the former goes too far.

On Monday, India test-fired the long range nuclear-capable strategic ballistic missile, with a strike range of 4,000km from Abdul Kalam Island, off Odisha coast. Agni-IV experimentation received accolades from Indian media for the missile's capability to "cover entire China."

"China is sincere in developing friendly ties with India. But it will not sit still if India goes too far," the editorial said. "New Delhi understands that it does little good to itself if the Sino-Indian relations are ruined by any geopolitical tricks."



It also said India had "broken the UN's limits on its development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missile."

"If the Western countries accept India as a nuclear country and are indifferent to the nuclear race between India and Pakistan, China will not stand out and stick rigidly to those nuclear rules as necessary."

The editorial went on to add that Pakistan should have those privileges in nuclear development that India has.

"If the UN Security Council has no objection over this, let it be. The range of Pakistan's nuclear missiles will also see an increase."



The editorial, however, ruled out any threat to China from the Indian side. "Chinese don't feel India's development has posed any big threat to it."

"It is simply believed that currently there is a vast disparity in power between the two countries," it said and stressed, "The best choice for Beijing and New Delhi is to build rapport."