China rejects Trump�s offer to mediate

Reacting for the first time to the US President�s offer, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, the two countries did not want the �intervention� from a third party to resolve the current military standoff.

�Between China and India we have existing border-related mechanisms and communication channels,� Zhao told a media briefing here when asked about Trump�s offer.

�We are capable of properly resolving the issues between us through dialogue. We do not need the intervention of the third party,� he said.

�We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute. Thank you!� Trump tweeted on Wednesday.

He reiterated his offer on Thursday while speaking to reporters at the White House.

Responding to a question on his tweet, Trump renewed his offer, saying if called for help, �I would do that (mediate). If they thought it would help� about �mediate or arbitrate, I would do that�, he said.

India on Wednesday said it was engaged with China to peacefully resolve the border row, in a carefully crafted reaction to Trump�s offer to arbitrate between the two Asian giants to settle their decades-old dispute.

�We are engaged with the Chinese side to peacefully resolve it,� Anurag Srivastava, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said, replying to questions at an online media briefing.

Trump has previously offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, a proposal that was rejected by New Delhi. � PTI