Beijing, China has reiterated its position on the status of Ladakh, a region that is part of Jammu and Kashmir, in light of recent developments in India.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Mao Ning, the spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, stated during a news briefing, “China has never recognized the so-called union territory of Ladakh set up unilaterally and illegally by India”. This statement comes after the Indian Supreme Court upheld the Indian government’s decisions from August 5, 2019, which included the revocation of the special status granted to occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution, and the subsequent formation of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Mao Ning responded to the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict by asserting that “India’s domestic judicial verdict does not change the fact that the western section of the China-India border has always belonged to China,” as reported in the transcript of the Beijing news briefing.

China has previously expressed objections to the changes made by India in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly regarding the region of Ladakh, where China maintains border claims along the Line of Actual Control. The disputed border has been a longstanding point of contention between the two countries.

The situation escalated in June 2020 when a clash at the Line of Actual Control resulted in the deaths of 24 soldiers, including 20 from the Indian side. While the border crisis remains unresolved, there have been indications of reduced tensions in recent times.