China on Thursday said its joint military exercise with India next month is not targeted at any "third party" and expressed the hope that it would enhance mutual trust between the two neighbours.
"This joint training is not targeted at any other third party," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular bi-weekly news briefing in Beijing.
China also hoped that the exercise would enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two armies and make contribution to regional stability, peace and prosperity, he said.
The spokesman's comments came in response to a question about the joint exercise to be conducted in China's Yunnan province and "if it has something to do with US arms sale to Taiwan."
Liu said the exercise was in line with the memorandum signed by both countries on exchanges and cooperation in defence areas.
About 100 troops from each country are expected to take part in the exercise which India said would focus on counter-terrorism measures and described it as "significant" for the relations between the two countries.
India had held military exercises with the US, Australia, Japan and Singapore in the Bay of Bengal in September.
As for the US arms sales to Taiwan, Liu said China was opposed to it and hoped Washington would honour its commitment made in the joint communique with Beijing on the Taiwan issue.
Raising strong objections to the American move, China had last week urged the US to immediately cancel its arms sale programme to Taiwan.
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