Chinese General warns India

• India should be cautious on border dispute
• Only it builds military, citing Chinese threat
• Remarks came as Antony begins 3-day visit

Beijing (Agencies): An outspoken Chinese general known for his nationalist views warned India on Thursday against stirring up "new trouble" in a long-running border dispute, just as defence minister AK Antony was set to visit Beijing. "The Indian side should not provoke new problems and increase military deployment at the border areas and stir up new trouble," Major General Luo Yuan told reporters. Luo, the deputy-director general of the world military research department at a People's Liberation Army academy, described himself at a briefing as a "reasonable hardliner." He made waves last year with comments questioning the legitimacy of Japanese sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands, a chain that includes Okinawa and hosts numerous US military bases. "India is the only country in the world that says that it is developing its military power because of China's military threat," said Luo, who was wearing a business suit. So I believe that India should be very cautious in what it does and what it says." A high-altitude border dispute between the nuclear-armed giants in the Himalayas has simmered for decades but intensified in May over troop movements in the region. New Delhi alleged Chinese troops intruded nearly 20 km into Indian territory. A three-week standoff ensued and was resolved after talks between local military leaders and a withdrawal of troops from both sides. The border situation was now generally "under control" following a visit to India in May by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Luo said. His comments came as A K Antony was due to arrive in China late on Thursday for three days of talks, the first such trip in seven years. Antony's visit, on which he is accompanied by top military commanders, coincides with a trip to China by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

China hosts Sharif, Antony in a rare diplomatic tango Beijing (PTI): China on Thursday hosted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Defence Minister A K Antony in a rare diplomatic tango between its all weather friend and emerging strategic partner, India. As both Sharif and Antony arrived here, state-television projected it as a rare diplomatic event by China hosting top leaders from both the countries, setting off a new phase with cordial ties with them. "Both India and Pakistan are very important countries in our neighbourhood," Wang Shida, a researcher with the China Institute of Contemporary Relations, told CCTV news. Though their visits were a coincident, the two were not expected to cross paths here.