China reiterated its territorial claims on Shaksgam Valley on Monday (January 12, 2026) amid India’s objections and said that its infrastructure projects in this area are absolutely justified. In fact, last Friday (January 9, 2026), India had criticized China’s infrastructure projects in Shaksgam Valley, saying that this is Indian territory and it has the right to take necessary steps to protect its interests.

In 1963, Pakistan handed over 5,180 square kilometers of Shaksgam Valley from illegally occupied Indian territory to China.

India never recognized China-PAK agreement- Jaiswal

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘Shaksgam Valley is Indian territory. We have never recognized the so-called China-Pakistan border agreement made in 1963. We have been continuously saying that this agreement is illegal and invalid. He said, ‘We also do not recognize the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), because it passes through Indian territory, which is illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan.’

Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India- Jaiswal

In response to a question related to China’s infrastructure projects in Shaksgam Valley, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral and inseparable part of India. This has been clearly told to Pakistani and Chinese officials many times.

China reacted to India’s comment

Responding to Jaiswal’s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference held in Beijing, ‘First of all, the area you are mentioning is part of China.’ He said, ‘China’s infrastructure activities in its own region are absolutely justified. China and Pakistan had signed a border agreement in the 1960s and the border between the two countries was fixed. This is the right of China and Pakistan as sovereign countries.

What did the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry say about CPEC?

At the same time, when criticized by India regarding CPEC, Mao reiterated Beijing’s old stand and said that it is an economic initiative, the objective of which is local economic and social development and improving the lives of the people. He said, ‘Such an agreement and CPEC will not affect China’s stand on the Kashmir issue and China’s stand on this issue remains unchanged.’

What is China’s stand on Kashmir issue?

China’s official position on the Kashmir issue is that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute has been long-standing and should be resolved appropriately and peacefully in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. China has been reiterating this stance.

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