China has firmly rejected India’s assertion that the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir belongs to New Delhi, with a top Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stating the disputed region “belongs to China” and that Beijing is justified in conducting infrastructure projects there. The comments came amid growing diplomatic friction over territorial claims, as China defended its development work under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and reiterated that its position on the area remains unchanged.

India, however, has strongly rejected Beijing’s stance, saying the 1963 boundary agreement between China and Pakistan—under which Islamabad ceded Shaksgam—is illegal and invalid and that Jammu and Kashmir, including Shaksgam, is an integral part of India. New Delhi has repeatedly protested Chinese activities and reserved the right to take necessary measures to safeguard its interests.

The dispute underscores persistent territorial tensions between the two Asian powers despite recent efforts to ease border friction.