BEIJING, Jan 13: Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday rejected India’s claim over the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The territory you mentioned belongs to China. It’s fully justified for China to conduct infrastructure construction on its own territory,” Mao said when asked about border issues and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The spokesperson further said, “China and Pakistan in the 1960s signed a boundary agreement and delimited the boundary between the two countries, which is the right of China and Pakistan as sovereign countries. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as an economic cooperation initiative, aims at promoting local socio-economic development and improving people’s livelihood. The China-Pakistan boundary agreement and CPEC do not affect China’s position on the Kashmir issue and the position remains unchanged.”
India strongly rejected “Chinese infrastructure projects” in the Shaksgam Valley, asserting that the region is an integral part of its territory and condemning any attempts to alter the ground reality.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasised that projects under the CPEC passing through this area are “illegal” and “invalid”, reiterating India’s consistent stance on “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “Chinese infrastructure buildup via CPEC in the Shaksgam Valley, which is Indian territory. We have never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963. We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid.”
He added, “We do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor either, which passes through Indian territory, currently under forcible and illegal occupation by Pakistan.”
He stressed, “The entire union Territories of J&K and Ladakh are an integral and inalienable part of India.”
This has been clearly conveyed to the” Chinese and Pakistani authorities” several times.
“We have consistently protested with the Chinese side for its attempts to alter the ground reality in the Shaksgam Valley. We further reserve the right to take necessary measures to safeguard our interests,” MEA said in a statement.
The latest tensions come amid reports that China has constructed a road across the Aghil Pass, at an altitude of 4,805 meters, reaching the lower Shaksgam Valley.
India has repeatedly conveyed its objections to both Chinese and Pakistani authorities and reserves the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests. (UNI)
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