Beijing. A diplomatic dispute between India and China has intensified over infrastructure construction being carried out by China in the Shaksgam Valley. Ignoring India’s strong objections, China on Monday reiterated its claim over the region and defended the projects underway there. The dispute further escalated after India stated clearly last Friday that the Shaksgam Valley is part of Indian territory and that the country possesses the sovereign right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its interests. It is noteworthy that in 1963, under an illegal agreement, Pakistan handed over approximately 5,180 square kilometers of Indian territory—known as the Shaksgam Valley—to China.
