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US bill condemning China's military aggression against India becomes law

PTI
WASHINGTONUpdated: Jan 02, 2021, 03:57 PM IST
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The relations between the two nations have been frosty  Photograph:(Reuters)

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China and India have been locked in a military standoff since May 2020 after Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. 

A bipartisan Congressional provision condemning China's aggression towards India has become a law as the US Congress overrode President Donald Trump's veto on the USD 740 billion defence policy bill which among other things included calling out China for its aggression against India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2021, which became law on Friday after Congress overrode Donald Trump's veto, included a resolution urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression towards India along the LAC.

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President Trump, on December 23, vetoed the NDAA, which had bipartisan support, arguing it had provisions that would damage national security.

As the US Congress dealt a blow to Donald Trump in his last days in office, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said: "Through today's New Year's Day vote in the Senate, Congress has made the National Defence Authorisation Act into law, including elements of my resolution calling on China to end its military aggression towards India and others in the broader Indo-Pacific region".

The US House of Representatives and the Senate, on December 15, passed the USD 740 billion NDAA, which included key components of Mr Krishnamoorthi's resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.

China and India have been locked in a military standoff since May 2020 after Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. Several rounds of talks between the two countries to resolve the standoff have not yielded any concrete outcome.

Mr Krishnamoorthi said: "The Chinese military's violent aggression along the Line of Actual Control with India and elsewhere is unacceptable, and the passage into law of this legislation sends a clear message of support and solidarity to India and our other partners across the world as we enter the New Year".