China on Thursday objected to the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories as unlawful and void, saying India’s decision to “include” some of China’s territory into its administrative jurisdiction challenged their sovereignty.
Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated on Thursday into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh — following the Indian government’s decision to revoke the state’s special status under Article 370 on August 5 this year.
China had strongly opposed to the order of revocation of Article 370 and the formation of Ladakh as Union Territory, claiming that some of the area also fell under the Chinese territory.
“The Indian government officially announced the establishment of so-called Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Union Territories which included some of China’s territory into its administrative jurisdiction” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
He was also noted saying that China deplores and firmly opposes India for “unilaterally changing its domestic laws and administrative division” which apparently challenged China’s sovereignty.
He was firmly against the decision- “This is unlawful and void and this is not effective in any way and will not change the fact that the area is under Chinese actual control,” he told the media.
Geng also said, urging India to “earnestly respect Chinese territorial sovereignty” and “uphold peace and tranquillity in the border areas”.
Foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar in his response in New Delhi said that it was not for other countries to comment on India’s internal matters.
“We do not expect other countries, including China, to comment on matters that are internal to India, just as India refrains from commenting on internal issues of other countries.India expects other countries to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also informed China that the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir is an internal matter and the sole prerogative of India and it has no implication for either the external boundaries of India or the Line of Actual Control (LAC). India then slammed China for holding ‘illegally acquired’ Indian territory.
Image Source – Indian Express
