China has formally asserted its claim over the Shaksgam Valley region of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the territory belongs to it and defending the construction of a road linking the area to Pakistan under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. The claim has triggered a strong response from India, which has once again rejected Beijing’s position and described both China’s presence and infrastructure activity in the region as illegal, reiterating that the area forms an integral part of Indian territory under unlawful occupation.
China defends Shaksgam Valley claim and CPEC activities
Beijing’s assertion came through official comments by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who stated that the Shaksgam Valley is part of China and that Beijing has every right to carry out infrastructure development within what it considers its sovereign territory. Responding to questions on the construction of a road connecting the region to Pakistan, she said such activity cannot be questioned by any other country.
China’s position was reported by its state-run media outlet, Global Times, which cited the spokesperson as saying that China’s actions are lawful and consistent with agreements signed in the past. According to Beijing, the China–Pakistan boundary was demarcated in the early 1960s through a bilateral agreement between China and Pakistan, which it says was concluded by two sovereign nations exercising their legitimate rights.
China has also sought to separate its territorial claim and infrastructure activity from its stated position on the Kashmir issue. Mao Ning said that the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, commonly known as CPEC, is an economic cooperation initiative aimed at promoting development, improving connectivity, and enhancing livelihoods in the region. She maintained that the project has no bearing on China’s stance on Kashmir, which Beijing describes as a historical and complex issue that should be resolved peacefully through dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Beijing’s official line remains that it respects United Nations resolutions and international agreements related to Kashmir and does not take a position on the final status of the disputed region. By framing CPEC as a purely economic initiative and reiterating its long-standing diplomatic position, China has attempted to deflect criticism that its actions undermine India’s sovereignty claims.
The Shaksgam Valley, located north of the Siachen Glacier and adjacent to the Karakoram region, has long been a sensitive geopolitical area. Pakistan took control of the region in 1948 following the first India–Pakistan conflict after independence. In 1963, Pakistan signed a boundary agreement with China, transferring control of the Shaksgam Valley to Beijing. India has consistently rejected this agreement, arguing that Pakistan had no legal authority to cede territory that it itself was occupying illegally.
China’s renewed assertion of its claim, coupled with reports of road construction in the area linking it more closely with Pakistan, has added a new layer of complexity to an already tense regional landscape. The road is reportedly being developed as part of CPEC, a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative that seeks to enhance trade and connectivity between China and multiple regions across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
India rejects China’s position and reiterates sovereignty claims
India has responded firmly to China’s statements, reiterating that the Shaksgam Valley is part of Jammu and Kashmir and therefore belongs to India. At a press conference on January 9, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India does not recognise China’s claim over the area or the 1963 China–Pakistan border agreement.
Jaiswal stated that India considers the agreement illegal and invalid, as it involves territory that is under Pakistan’s forcible and unlawful occupation. He emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Ladakh, are integral parts of India, a position that New Delhi has repeatedly conveyed to both Islamabad and Beijing. According to India, any construction or development activity by third countries in these regions violates its sovereignty.
India has also categorically rejected the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, arguing that the project passes through Indian territory that is illegally occupied by Pakistan. New Delhi has consistently objected to CPEC at international forums, stating that no economic initiative can justify the violation of a country’s territorial integrity. Indian officials have maintained that China’s involvement in infrastructure projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir raises serious legal and diplomatic concerns.
CPEC, launched in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is valued at around $60 billion and aims to connect China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s Gwadar Port in Balochistan. The corridor includes a network of highways, railways, ports, and energy projects designed to boost economic activity and provide China with a shorter route to the Arabian Sea.
From India’s perspective, the strategic implications of CPEC go beyond economic development. New Delhi has argued that the corridor enhances China’s strategic footprint in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, potentially enabling a stronger Chinese naval presence at Gwadar Port. Indian analysts have warned that such developments could alter the regional balance of power and increase security challenges for India.
India has also pointed out that a significant portion of CPEC passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, another region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir claimed by India. By investing heavily in infrastructure in these areas, China is seen by New Delhi as legitimising Pakistan’s control over disputed territory and undermining India’s long-standing position on Kashmir.
China, however, has rejected these concerns, insisting that CPEC is purely an economic project and does not target any third country. Beijing has argued that improved connectivity and development will benefit the region as a whole and contribute to stability and prosperity.
The disagreement over the Shaksgam Valley and CPEC reflects deeper tensions between India and China, which have been marked in recent years by border standoffs, diplomatic friction, and competing strategic interests. While both sides continue to engage through diplomatic channels, statements such as China’s recent claim over the Shaksgam Valley highlight the persistence of unresolved disputes and the challenges facing regional stability.
