The United States' Department of Defense (DoD) claims that China is strengthening its military presence along the Indian border.

In its 2016 report to Congress on military and security developments involving the People's Republic of China, which was released on Friday, the Pentagon revealed that Beijing has boosted its military presence along the Indian border.

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Beijing has strengthened its defense capabilities and deployed more troops along Indian border, according to the report.

"We have noticed an increase in capability and force posture by the Chinese military in areas close to the border with India," Abraham. M. Denmark, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, said during a press briefing.

"It is difficult to say how much of this is driven by internal considerations to maintain internal stability, and how much of it is an external consideration," he noted.

The DoD report comes just a few days after Beijing raised the authority level of the Tibet Military Command (TMC). The move put the TMC under the direct jurisdiction of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground forces.

"The elevation of the authority level is not only an improvement for the troops' designation, but also an expansion of their function and mission," said Zhao Zhong, deputy director of the Political Work Department of the Tibet Military Command, according to Global Times.

The move is likely to further sour ties between India and China. Beijing's recent objection to India joining the Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) has already affected the bilateral relations between two nations.

The Pentagon, in its report, revealed that India's nuclear arsenal is pushing China to modernize its nuclear force.

In March, India accused Beijing of deploying troops to Pakistani-Occupied Kashmir (POK). However, Chinese denied the allegation.

Tagschina, India, US, Pentagon, border