China Reignites Shaksgam Dispute, Rejects India’s Objections to Infrastructure in J&K
New Delhi: China has once again escalated tensions with India by reiterating its cartographical claims over the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that its infrastructure projects in the region are “beyond reproach”. The statement comes days after India strongly objected to Beijing’s construction activities in the area, describing the valley as Indian territory under illegal occupation.
The Shaksgam Valley is located in a strategically sensitive region, bordering China’s Xinjiang province in the north and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) in the south and west. The high-altitude valley lies north of the Karakoram range, close to the disputed Siachen Glacier and the Aksai Chin region.
China Defends Infrastructure Activity
Responding to India’s criticism, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing in Beijing that the Shaksgam Valley is part of China’s territory. She said China’s infrastructure activities within the region are legitimate and cannot be questioned.
Referring to the 1963 China-Pakistan boundary agreement, Mao said Beijing and Islamabad had settled their border decades ago and described the pact as a sovereign decision between the two countries. She also repeated China’s long-standing position that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an economic initiative aimed at improving regional development and livelihoods.
China maintained that its infrastructure projects would not affect its stance on the Kashmir issue, asserting that its position remains unchanged.
India Rejects China’s Claims
India has categorically rejected China’s position, reiterating that the Shaksgam Valley is an integral part of Indian territory. The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi has never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement signed in 1963, calling it illegal and invalid.
India has also consistently opposed the CPEC, stating that the corridor passes through Indian territory under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. New Delhi has made clear that it does not accept any activity that seeks to legitimise such arrangements.
The government has underlined that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India and has conveyed this position to both China and Pakistan on multiple occasions.
Strategic Concerns Over Chinese Construction
China has reportedly accelerated construction of an all-weather road through the Shaksgam Valley, despite India’s objections. These activities are believed to have intensified after the 2017 Doklam standoff between Indian and Chinese forces.
The proposed road is said to be located less than 49 kilometres from the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield. While the infrastructure is unlikely to immediately affect India’s defence posture, security analysts view the development as part of China’s broader strategic coordination with Pakistan in the region.
Earlier reports have also suggested that Pakistan has explored new overland border crossings with China to enhance logistical and military coordination.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
China’s renewed assertions over the Shaksgam Valley highlight the unresolved and sensitive nature of territorial disputes in the region. By defending infrastructure activity in an area that India considers its sovereign territory, Beijing has once again underlined the complexities of the China-Pakistan partnership and its implications for regional stability.
India’s firm response signals that New Delhi remains unwilling to accept any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo. As infrastructure and strategic projects gain pace in disputed areas, the Shaksgam Valley is likely to remain a flashpoint in India-China relations, with broader implications for security dynamics across the Himalayan region.