“The union territories of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir have been, are and would remain an integral part of India. China has no locus standi to comment on India’s internal matters,” said spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Anurag Srivastava on Thursday, reported ANI. This comes two days after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that it “does not recognise Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by India” and opposes infrastructure building in the region.

He added that Arunachal Pradesh was also an integral part of India and the fact has also been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, including at the highest level.

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“The government focused on creating infrastructure for improving livelihood, economic welfare of people and we give more attention to development of border areas for economic development and to meet India’s security, strategic requirements,” said the MEA spokesman on China’s remarks over border infrastructure.

India and China have been locked in a face-off in eastern Ladakh since May. The tension escalated in June when 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a clash with the Chinese troops at Galwan Valley. Last month, shots were fired in the air more than once as the two armies came face to face at Pangong Tso.