India reminds China of its occupation after 'unlawful UTs' statement

Slamming China for its calling the bifurcation of Jammu-Kashmir into Union Territories as 'unlawful and void', government sources, on Thursday, have said that India does not expect comment on the matters which are internal to India. It added that China is aware of India’s consistent and clear position on this issue. Sources added that just as India refrains from commenting on internal issues of other countries, the Centre expects other countries to respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

India reminds China of its PoK occupation

Govt sources have pointed out that China continues to occupy a major area in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Slamming China for its occupation of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) under the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, the Centre has stated that it has conveyed its concerns about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to both countries, as per govt. sources. India maintains that the territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.

READ | Formation of J&K, Ladakh union territories "unlawful and void" :China

India reminds of Modi-Xi summit agreement

Reminding China of the discussion held between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping at the second informal Summit at Mahabalipuram in October, govt. sources reiterated that both countries had agreed to seek a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the issue through peaceful consultations. Sources added that both countries have also agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in the border area in the meantime. India and China had agreed to above political parameters in 2005.

READ | Gazette Notification establishing J&K, Ladakh as Union territories out

China calls UTs formation 'unlawful' and 'void'

Earlier in the day, China objected to the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories as "unlawful and void". It said that India's decision to "include" some of China's territory into its administrative jurisdiction "challenged" Beijing's sovereignty, according to PTI. China had raised similar concerns after the revocation of Article 370  on August 5.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, "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," while talking to reporters in Beijing. He added, "China deplores and firmly opposes that. India unilaterally changed its domestic laws and administrative division challenging China's sovereignty." He also said that the move was unlawful and void and is not effective in any way and will not change the fact that the area is under Chinese actual control.

READ | Presidential rule revoked in Jammu and Kashmir after 2 UTs created

UTs came into existence

The President's rule imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir was on Thursday revoked following bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories. The two UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh come into existence on Thursday after the central government on August 5 decided to abrogate the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and create them on October 31. G C Murmu and R K Mathur have been sworn-in as first Lt Governors of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh respectively on Thursday.

READ | J&K: President Kovind promulgates Removal of Difficulties Order