WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the recent clashes "initiated" by the Chinese military against India in eastern Ladakh are the latest examples of the "unacceptable behaviour" of ruling Chinese Communist Party.
He also praised India's decision to ban 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, which he said are "security risks" to the Indian people.
"It's important that democracies like ours work together, especially as we see more clear than ever the true scope of the challenge posed by the Chinese communist party."
"Our infrastructure projects, our supply chains, our sovereignty, and our people's health and safety are all at risk. If we get it wrong," Pompeo said in his virtual keynote address to the annual 'India Ideas Summit' of the US India Business Council.
"The recent clashes initiated by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are just the latest examples of the Chinese Communist Party's unacceptable behaviour. We were deeply saddened by the deaths of 20 Indian service members. I'm confident that with our concerted efforts, we can protect our interests," he said.
The troops of India and China are locked in a standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh since May 5.
The situation deteriorated last month following the Galwan Valley clashes that left 20 Indian Army personnel dead.
Pompeo commended India's recent decision to ban 59 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok that present serious security risks for the Indian people.
He said he was happy to report that India is a "rising US defense and security partner, in the Indo-Pacific and globally," he said.
Asserting that the United States has never been more supportive of India's a security, he said New Delhi too, is an important partner and a key pillar of President Donald Trump's foreign policy.
"We work closely together to make sure that the world intellectual property organisation election was won by someone who respects property rights. It seems pretty basic."
Pompeo noted that the so-called quad compile comprised that the US, India, Japan and Australia has been revived.
"India is also part of a group of like-minded nations that I've convened regularly to advance shared interests," he said.
He also noted that the US has also invited Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi to the next G-7 (summit), where the leaders will advance the economic prosperity network.
The G-7 is a group of countries and organisations that the US considers natural partners because they share values like democracy and transparency and the rule of law.
India, Pompeo said, has a chance to attract global supply chains away from China and reduce its reliance on Chinese companies in like telecommunications, medical supplies and others.
"India is in this position because it has earned the trust of many nations around the world, including the United States," he said.
"We also had to work with India to advance the blue. network, an initiative to promote high quality, transparent infrastructure development," he said, adding that this effort is crucial to adopt because free markets are the best way to lift people out of poverty.
India has seen that in its own recent past, he noted.
He said that is an especially vital truth to remember today because the private sector will be indispensable and overcoming the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic that began in Wuhan, China.
"But as I said last year to achieve these worthy goals, India will need to encourage an environment that is more open to increased trade and investment.
"I know that's possible because Indians and Americans share a spirit of hard work and entrepreneurship, and I'm confident our partnership is only getting stronger," Pompeo said.
The United States, he said, desires a new age of ambition in its relationship with India.
"We don't just interact on a bilateral basis. We see each other for what we are great democracies, global powers and really good friends. India is one of a few trusted like-minded countries whose leaders I call on a regular basis for counsel and collaboration on issues that span continents," Pompeo added.
Describing India as one of the few trusted like-minded countries, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that New Delhi is an important partner and a key pillar of President Donald Trump's foreign policy.
In his virtual keynote address to the annual 'India Ideas Summit' of the US India Business Council (USIBC), Pompeo said he was happy to report that India is a "rising" US defense and security partner in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
The United States, he said, "desires a new age of ambition" in its relationship with India.
Asserting that the US has never been more supportive of India's security, he said New Delhi too, is an important partner and a key pillar of President Trump's foreign policy.
"We don't just interact on a bilateral basis. We see each other for what we are great democracies, global powers and really good friends. India is one of the few trusted like-minded countries whose leaders I call on a regular basis for counsel and collaboration on issues that span continents," Pompeo said.
"I'm confident that our relationship is only getting stronger. Let's emerge from this current challenge more resilient and innovative than before. And let's seize this moment to deepen cooperation between two of the world's greatest democracies," he added.
Pompeo said the US has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the next G7 meeting to be hosted by President Trump.
"We will advance the economic prosperity network. It is the group of countries and organisations that we consider natural partners with we share values like democracy, transparency and rule of law," Pompeo said.
The Group of Seven (G-7) is an international intergovernmental economic organisation consisting of seven major developed countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, which are some of the largest IMF-advanced economies in the world.
Pompeo also said that he was happy to report that India is a rising US defense and security partner, in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
"I'm confident that with our concerted efforts, we can protect our interests" he said.
"We've revived the so-called quad that comprised the US, India, Japan and Australia. India is also part of a group of likeminded nations that I've convened regularly to advance shared interests," he said.
Navies from the US, India, Australia, Japan and France have been deepening their mutual cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in view of China's growing attempt to expand military influence in the resource-rich region.
On Monday, a US Navy carrier strike group led by nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz carried out a military drill with a fleet of Indian warships off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Frontline warships of the Indian Navy participated in the "PASSEX" exercise when the US carrier strike group was transiting through the Indian Ocean Region on its way from the South China Sea.
The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship and the exercise between the two navies assumed significance as it took place in the midst of tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh as well as in China's military assertiveness in South China Sea.