It contrasts with his strong reaction to India’s Jammu and Kashmir reorganization movement last year.
In contrast to the strong reaction to India’s Jammu and Kashmir reorganization move last year, China on Wednesday refrained from expressing opposition to Pakistan’s announced move to grant Gilgit-Baltistan “provisional provincial status” in occupied Kashmir. for Pakistan (PoK).
Also read: Gilgit-Baltistan will be a complete province: Prime Minister of Pakistan
In a more silent response, China’s Foreign Ministry said that it had “taken note of the relevant reports” and that “China’s position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear.”
“It is an issue that remained in the history between India and Pakistan. It should be resolved peacefully and properly in accordance with the charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements, ”said spokesman Wang Wenbin.
His comments came in response to questions from the Indian media at a regular press conference. Unlike its statement on India in 2019, China did not issue a statement on Pakistan’s move to change the status of Gilgit-Baltistan, a disputed region where China is also carrying out projects under its China Pakistan Economic Corridor plan ( CPEC), which India has opposed.
Also read: Gilgit-Baltistan is part of India, says MEA
In August 2019, following the dilution of Article 370 and the removal of the special status for Jammu and Kashmir, China said it was “seriously concerned about the current situation in Jammu Kashmir.”
“China’s position on the Kashmir issue is clear and consistent,” the statement said at the time. “It is also an international consensus that the Kashmir issue is a thing left of the past between India and Pakistan. Relevant parties should act with restraint and act with prudence. In particular, they must refrain from taking actions that unilaterally change the status quo and increase tensions. We call on India and Pakistan to peacefully resolve relevant disputes through dialogue and consultation and safeguard peace and stability in the region. “
China had also opposed the creation of Ladakh as a Union Territory. While Delhi had conveyed to Beijing that the move did not change external borders or territorial claims, China said it “always opposed India’s inclusion of Chinese territory in the western sector of the China-India border in its administrative jurisdiction “, referring to Aksai Chin. The move, Beijing said, “undermined China’s territorial sovereignty by unilaterally changing national law.”
Read also: Gilgit-Baltistan: the land of peaks, streams and disputes
When asked on Wednesday if the difference in response suggested that China did not follow “its declared neutral approach,” Wang said: “I do not think that is a valid statement. As I just said, China’s position on the issue of Kashmir is consistent and clear. “
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