Mongolia seeks India's financial aid, Chinese official media says it's 'insane'

Beijing: China's state media warned Mongolia of dire consequences for seeking financial help from India and described the move as "politically harebrained".

Global Times on Friday criticised Mongolia for approaching India and said it will further complicate bilateral ties.

Mongolian envoy to New Delhi Gonchig Ganhold had sought India's support to overcome the country's financial difficulties as a result of Chinese measures.

But China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang on Thursday declined to respond on the issue, saying he hasn't heard of any such remark, PTI reported.

"Sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia vows to remain a neutral state to benefit from both sides without having to get involved in a major-power competition," the article said.

"However, it also hopes it could seek a third neighbour, which can enable the country to reap more profits by gaining more bargaining chips.

“But Mongolia should be alerted that it cannot afford the risks of such geopolitical games," it said.

"Mongolia seems naive about the way international relations work - you cannot harm a country's interests while hoping it can reciprocate nicely.

"Mongolia should know that mutual respect is the precondition to develop bilateral relationships and hitch a ride on China's economic development.

"It is even more politically harebrained to ask for support from India, a move that will only complicate the situation and leave a narrower space to sort the issue out.

“We hope the crisis-hit Mongolia will learn its lessons," PTI quoted the article as saying.

Mongolia caught China by surprise by hosting the Dalai Lama last month for four days, saying that it was purely religious visit.