China welcomes 2+2 dialogue, wants regional peace

China on Friday said it was “happy” to see India and the US hold their first 2+2 dialogue, while urging the two countries to contribute more towards peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The comments came a day after India and the US held high-level talks in New Delhi, during which the two countries signed a key defence agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Reacting to the joint position on the Indo-Pacific, Beijing said all countries had the right to operate in international waters and stressed the importance of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Beijing had taken note of the India-US dialogue and welcomed normal bilateral relations between the two countries.

“As to the 2+2 consultation between India and the US, we have seen the report. We are happy to see the normal bilateral relations between them. We also hope that in this process they will do more to regional peace and regional stability,” Hua said while responding to a question about the Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) signed by India and the US.

She said China expected all countries in the region to take practical steps to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

“We uphold the legal rights entitled in the international law and we also hope parties can do real things to ensure freedom of navigation,” Hua said.

India and the US have strengthened their strategic and defence cooperation in recent years, a development that has attracted close attention from Beijing. China has expressed concerns over regional security arrangements that it perceives as aimed at limiting its growing influence.

The expanding presence of the Chinese Navy across the Indian Ocean and Pacific has also encouraged greater security cooperation among India, the US, Japan and Australia. The four countries have increasingly engaged through the informal Quad grouping, focusing on a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

The Indo-Pacific was a key subject during the inaugural India-US 2+2 talks. Both sides reiterated their support for an open and inclusive regional order and greater cooperation on maritime security.

China's response reflects its effort to maintain its stated position on freedom of navigation while closely watching the evolving strategic relationship between India and the US and the wider security architecture taking shape in the Indo-Pacific.