NEW DELHI, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- China's envoy to New Delhi offered India help against Maoist rebels operating in more than 14 states.
"If there is any help from us to get rid of them (Maoists rebels), we will try to do our best," said Sun Yuxi, according to the Times of India newspaper Thursday.
An Indian Foreign Ministry official said the remarks were a clear case of posturing by the Chinese government because the intended recipient was not India but Nepal, which is fighting its own Maoist insurgency.
"We are also wondering why they call themselves Maoists. We don't like that at home. We don't have any connection with them at home," Sun said.
Indian experts on Chinese affairs said the remarks would heighten India's dilemma on how to deal with the Maoists.
New Delhi has said the Maoist problem in Nepal should be handled politically rather than through force. Sun's remarks assume significance in view of China's assurance to Nepal that it will supply it with arms to deal with the rebels.
Maoist rebels in Nepal claim much of the rural area. They want to establish a Communist regime in the country.
