India’s Move to Bifurcate J&K into Two UTs is Unlawful: China’s FM Spokesperson

                                                                                                                                (Pic credit: PTI)

Among other bizarre comments by China on Jammu and Kashmir issues, the country has termed India's move of separating the state of J&K into two Union Territories as "unlawful and void". China has also pointed out that the bifurcation would affect Beijing's sovereignty.  

On the other hands, India has now hit back saying China should avoid commenting on matters that are internal for India and Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir are integral parts of the country.

The MEA spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, while speaking to the media said, “We expect other countries to respect India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China continues to be in occupation of a large tract of area in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh”.  

He added, “It has illegally acquired Indian territories from PoK under so called China-Pakistan boundary agreement of 1963”.

The MEA said, “India do not expect other countries, including China, to comment on the matters which are internal to India just as India refrains from commenting on internal issues of other countries. The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh are integral part of India”.

The J&K was bifurcated on Thursday into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- in accordance with the Indian government's August 5 announcement revoking the state's special status under Article 370.

China had earlier objected to the Indian government's August 5 order of the revocation of Article 370 and the formation of Ladakh as a Union Territory. China had also claimed that portions of the area involved Chinese territory.

Speaking to the media persons at Beizing this afternoon, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, 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”. He stressed that the China deplores and firmly opposed that. Shuang said, “Challenging China’s sovereignty, India has unilaterally changed its domestic laws and administrative division challenging China's sovereignty”. Giving a befitting reply to the Chinese government’s comment, India has said that China continues to be in occupation of a large tract of area in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.