BEIJING: China has firmly rejected India’s criticism of its infrastructure development activities in the Shaksgam Valley, stating that the region is part of Chinese territory and that construction projects there are fully legitimate.
Responding to Indian objections, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson and Director of the Information Department Mao Ning said that China has every right to carry out infrastructure development within its own borders. She dismissed India’s claims over the area, emphasizing that Beijing’s actions are lawful and based on established international agreements.
Mao Ning explained that China and Pakistan signed a border agreement in the 1960s that clearly demarcated the boundary between the two countries. She described the agreement as a legitimate arrangement between two sovereign states, adding that it should not be questioned by third parties.
Addressing concerns related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Chinese spokesperson said the initiative is purely an economic cooperation project. Its primary objective, she noted, is to promote local socio-economic development and improve the living standards of people in the region.
She clarified that both the China-Pakistan border agreement and CPEC have no bearing on China’s position regarding the Kashmir dispute. According to Mao Ning, China’s stance on Kashmir remains consistent and unchanged.
