China has categorically laid claim to the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, justifying Beijing’s infrastructural construction work there and refuting India’s claim to the territory.
“The territory you mentioned belongs to China. It’s fully justified for China to conduct infrastructure construction on its own territory,” Ning said when asked about border issues and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The Shaksgam Valley, borders Xinjiang Province of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the north, the Northern Areas of POJK to the south and west, and the Siachen Glacier region to the east.
The spokesperson further said the CPEC is an economic cooperation project intended to promote local economic and social development, and improve people’s livelihoods and that the border agreement between China and Pakistan and the CPEC do not affect China’s position on the Kashmir issue.
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Ning said China and Pakistan had signed a boundary agreement in the 1960s and demarcated borders between the two countries. The settlement, she said, was an exercise of the rights of two sovereign states and that China’s position on this matter has not changed.
On January 9, India had objected to China’s infrastructure buildup through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the Shaksgam Valley, terming it “illegal and invalid” and noted that the region is an “integral and inalienable part” of India.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said India had never recognised the “so-called” China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963 or the “so-called” CPEC.
“Shaksgam Valley is an 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. We do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor either that passes through Indian territory, which is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan,” he said.
Jaiswal said New Delhi had “consistently protested” on the matter and has further reserved the right to safeguard its interests.
“The entire UTs 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,” he added.
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