The friction was triggered when India publicly criticised what it called “unauthorised and illegal infrastructure development” by China in the Shaksgam Valley, asserting that the territory is an integral part of the Indian Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Indian officials reiterated that the so-called 1963 Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement, through which Pakistan ceded the area to China, has no legal standing because Pakistan itself occupies the land illegally following the 1947–48 conflict and subsequent division of the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. New Delhi described both the agreement and the related China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — which runs through territory New Delhi claims — as invalid and unlawful. India flatly rejected any change in ground reality there and warned that it reserved the right to take necessary measures to protect its sovereign interests.
Beijing’s response was swift and uncompromising. In a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declared that the Shaksgam Valley is “part of China’s territory” and that China’s development and construction activities there are “fully justified” and “beyond reproach.” China defended its infrastructure projects — including road and connectivity work under the broad umbrella of CPEC — as legitimate efforts on sovereign land. Mao invoked the 1963 border agreement with Pakistan as the legal basis for China’s claim, insisting that Beijing and Islamabad exercised their sovereign rights in setting that border and dismissing India’s objections.
The Shaksgam Valley holds a strategic position. It lies north of the Karakoram range, adjacent to China’s Xinjiang autonomous region and close to the Siachen Glacier — the world’s highest battlefield — and the broader Kashmir theatre. Historically, the area was part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir before the partition of British India, and India continues to claim it as integral to its territory despite decades of foreign control. The 1963 agreement between Pakistan and China transferred the roughly 5,180 square kilometres of land to Beijing — a pact New Delhi has never recognised.
The immediate flashpoint in January 2026 was sparked by the pace and scale of Chinese activity in the valley. Reports suggest that China’s road construction there — part of broader infrastructure to improve connectivity between Xinjiang and Pakistan — had made significant progress, drawing New Delhi’s diplomatic ire. Indian officials reiterated at press briefings that such work on what they consider Indian land is unacceptable, and underscored that India does not recognise CPEC where it crosses claimed territory.
China’s stance wasn’t merely a defensive posture; it was a reaffirmation of its long-held position on the region. By reiterating that Shaksgam Valley “belongs to China,” Beijing signalled that it intends to maintain and potentially expand its footprint in the contested territory, even as India stands its ground diplomatically and rhetorically.
The renewed exchange has broader implications. Beyond the bilateral India-China dynamics, the dispute also touches on Pakistan’s role in the region. Islamabad’s 1963 agreement with Beijing is seen in New Delhi as a unilateral and illegal transfer of Indian territory — a “gift” that has become a persistent sore point. Analysts warn that such controversies, left unresolved, could become flashpoints that influence defence postures, regional alliances, and peace negotiations across South Asia.
As the winter sun glints off the karst peaks surrounding the Shaksgam Valley, the dispute underscores how geography and history intertwine in the high Himalayas to shape modern international relations. The latest chapter in the India-China territorial dialogue shows no immediate sign of resolution, and continues to test diplomatic channels even as both nations manage a complex balance of competition and cooperation on other fronts.