China backs Pakistan's terror record after Tillerson's sharp rebuke
What's the story
China has praised its all-weather friend Pakistan's "positive efforts" at tackling terrorism.
The statement comes after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said during his visit to India that America won't tolerate terror safe havens in Pakistan.
"Pakistan has made positive efforts for counter-terrorism and made great sacrifices" which the international community must recognize, said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.
25 Oct 2017
Swaraj slams Pak-based terror in joint statement with US counterpart
On October 25, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj slammed Pakistan, saying it must act against terrorist groups in its territory, during a joint statement with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New Delhi.
Tillerson acknowledged, "Terrorist safe havens will not be tolerated."
"Too many terror groups find safe haven in Pakistan which is now threatening the stability of the Pakistan government," he added.
Quote
China says it welcomes any US-Pak cooperation against terror
Geng said China "welcomed Pakistan and the US to conduct counter-terrorism cooperation based on mutual respect." He said China also "welcomes the US, India, Pakistan and all countries to develop friendly relations. We hope and believe relations will be conducive to regional peace and stability."
Security
Meanwhile, China asks Pakistan to improve security for its diplomats
Meanwhile, Pakistani media recently published a letter purportedly by a Chinese official asking the Pakistani interior ministry to provide more security to Chinese diplomats.
The letter claimed an East Turkestan Islamic Movement separatist from China's restive Xinjiang province, had sneaked into Pakistan.
China is particularly worried about the safety of its citizens after ISIS allegedly killed two Chinese teachers in Balochistan this June.
Analysis
China has often defended Pakistan's terror record
This isn't the first time China has come to defend Pakistan's record on terrorism.
On September 9, days after China joined other BRICS countries to condemn Pakistan-based terror groups in a declaration, Beijing hailed its "iron brother" Islamabad's great sacrifices in fighting terrorism.
China backing Pakistan can potentially render Indo-US counter-terrorism efforts meaningless and enable Pak-based terrorist groups to threaten global and regional stability.