Said a party statement on the issue: ``We are surprised that the attempts of the Defence Minister to convert his personal agenda into that of a government's agenda continue unabated. Time has now come for the PM to put an end to the confusion the Defence Minister is creating with regard to the country's foreign and defence policy.''

``The minister in his Krishna Menon lecture once again made observations about our relations with China which go against our trying to widen, deepen and strengthen our relations with China,'' the statement added.

The CPM has alsoreacted strongly to Fernandes' statement. Party politburo member Sitaram Yechury dismissed Fernandes' claim as ``pure jingoism''. ``What has happened in the last six weeks to change the threat perception?'' he asked. ``At that time the threat was from the other border and now the BJP government feels the threat is from China.''

Meanwhile, reacting to the statement of chairman of AICC foreign affairs department K Natwar Singh that his observations on China were ``irresponsible and unfortunate'', George Fernandes said the thrust of his statement was that ``we must have a dialogue and resolve our differences in an amicable manner rather than going in for confidence building measures''.

The Defence Ministry meanwhile was ``looking into'' information that China has reportedly constructed an airstrip in the No Man's land along the Sino-Indian border in Baramati in Uttar Pradesh, Fernandes said today.

``We are looking into this and I can react only after getting details,'' the minister said.