India claimed on Thursday that the union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir have been and will continue to be an integral part of India and that China has no locus standi to comment on its internal affairs.
The statement by the Foreign Ministry came days after China said it does not recognize the Union Territory of Ladakh established “illegally” by India.
“The union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir have been, are and will remain an integral part of India. China has no locus standi to comment on the internal affairs of India,” MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava said at a conference. online.
“We hope countries do not comment on India’s internal affairs as much as they expect the same from others: MEA on China’s comments on Ladakh,” he said.
China had previously said it did not recognize the Union Territory of Ladakh established “illegally” by India, in response to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s inauguration of 44 key bridges built in strategically important areas.
India and China have been embroiled in a bitter clash since the beginning of this year after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in clashes with the PLA in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in June.
“China does not recognize the so-called Union Territory of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. “We oppose the construction of infrastructure for the purpose of military surveillance in disputed border areas.”
Bridges inaugurated by India have been built in strategically key areas of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Most of these bridges are expected to significantly improve troop movement in areas along the Chinese border in sectors of Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, authorities said. Both India and China held a series of diplomatic and military talks to resolve the border confrontation. However, no progress has been made to calm the situation.
.
