India Objects to China's Illegal Occupation of Territory in J&K, Ladakh
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Security
Why in news
India has formally objected to China's illegal occupation of Indian territory in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Manila. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that India respects China's sovereignty but China continues to occupy Indian territory since 1963, including areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Background
India and China have a long-standing border dispute, with the Line of Actual Control (LAC) not fully demarcated. China has occupied parts of Indian territory in Ladakh (Aksai Chin) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir since the 1962 war. Bilateral relations have been strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
Key facts
India stated it has been consistent in not violating China's sovereignty.
China continues to illegally occupy Indian territory in J&K and Ladakh since 1963.
India objects to Chinese projects on Indian territory in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The assertion came after EAM Jaishankar's meeting with Wang Yi in Manila on the margins of ASEAN.
Jaishankar stressed the need to address bilateral trade imbalance, fair market access, and supply chain reliability.
Border peace and tranquillity remain a prerequisite for normalisation of bilateral ties.
India follows the one-China policy but has not publicly articulated it since 2010.
China will support India in hosting a successful BRICS summit in September 2026.
President Xi Jinping is likely to attend the BRICS summit, his first visit to India since 2019.
The 2019 summit was held in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
Prelims pointers
- Line of Actual Control (LAC)
- Aksai Chin
- Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
- ASEAN
- BRICS
- One-China policy
- Galwan Valley clash (2020)
- Mahabalipuram summit (2019)
Mains angles
- Discuss the India-China border dispute and its impact on bilateral relations.
- Critically examine the role of border peace in normalising India-China ties.
- Analyse the significance of the BRICS summit in the context of India-China relations.