BEIJING: Beijing has criticized India’s decision to change the status of Jammu & Kashmir, a state that borders China, accusing New Delhi of undermining its territorial sovereignty.
Beijing has always opposed India’s inclusion of Chinese territory in the western section of the China-India border, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswomen Hua Chunying said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 6).
“The recent unilateral revision of domestic laws by the Indian side continues to undermine China’s territorial sovereignty, which is unacceptable and will not have any effect,” Ms. Hua said.
India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to phone calls and messages requesting comment.
China is seriously concerned about the current situation in Kashmir, Ms. Hua added.
“We call on India and Pakistan to peacefully resolve relevant disputes through dialogue,” she said, noting China had urged India to “avoid any move that further complicates the border issue”.
India and China have long had border disputes in Ladakh, which was made a federally administered region along with the move to remove the special status to Kashmir in Parliament on Monday.
A two-week standoff ensued in September 2014 when Chinese troops advanced several kilometers into northern Ladakh.
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