India’s Ministry of External Affairs has outright dismissed China’s ongoing construction in the Shaksgam Valley as illegitimate, bolstering New Delhi’s sovereign assertions. During Friday’s briefing, officials reiterated non-recognition of the 1963 Sino-Pak deal that purportedly transferred the territory.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was unequivocal: the pact lacks legal standing, and so does the CPEC traversing what India considers its land. ‘We reject any attempts to change facts on the ground,’ he said, affirming Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh’s unbreakable union with India.
This firm rebuttal underscores India’s preparedness to act decisively. The valley’s strategic location amplifies concerns, as Chinese projects could encroach on Indian borders.
Recalling historical context, EAM S. Jaishankar in a July parliamentary address chronicled the Pakistan-China axis—from the 1963 cession, 1976 nuclear ties, Gwadar port handover in 2013, to CPEC’s rollout. He framed it as a persistent ‘two-front challenge,’ predating current governments and demanding unified national strategy.
New Delhi has lodged repeated demarches with Beijing. With infrastructure buildup intensifying, India eyes the terrain vigilantly, ready for calibrated responses. This episode highlights enduring border frictions, where diplomacy meets resolve.
