China rejected India’s claim over the Shaksgam Valley in Kashmir on Monday and said the territory belongs to China. At a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to a question from Press Trust of India and said China remains fully justified in carrying out infrastructure construction on its own territory. She added that Beijing views the criticism from New Delhi as unfounded and reiterated China’s long-stated position on the area.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs restated its objection and said New Delhi has never recognised the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement and considers it illegal and invalid. The ministry said India does not recognise the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and has consistently protested against any attempts to change the situation on the ground.
Beijing defends agreements and CPEC
In response, Mao said China and Pakistan signed a boundary agreement in the 1960s and lawfully delimited their border as sovereign nations. She said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor aims to promote local development and improve livelihoods, not to alter positions on the Kashmir issue. She stressed that China’s stance on Kashmir remains unchanged despite the ongoing projects.
India and China have clashed for decades over competing territorial claims across the Himalayas. However, the two sides reached a significant agreement in 2024 to reduce military tensions after a deadly 2020 confrontation. Since then, both countries have taken steps to stabilise ties, including resuming direct flights and expanding trade and investment exchanges.
Nevertheless, disputes continue to surface. Beijing maintains claims over Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls Zangnan and considers part of South Tibet, while New Delhi firmly rejects the assertion. China has also renamed several locations in the state in recent years, prompting strong diplomatic protests from India again recently.
