On Friday, 24th July, India firmly rejected any suggestion that it has violated China’s sovereignty, saying it has always respected Beijing’s territorial integrity. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) instead said China continues to occupy parts of Indian territory illegally and is carrying out activities in areas that belong to India.
The clarification came after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila on Thursday, 23rd July. After the meeting, China released its official statement, claiming that Jaishankar had said India’s position on Taiwan and Tibet remains unchanged and that New Delhi respects China’s sovereignty.
MEA says India has never violated China’s sovereignty
Responding to questions during the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has always maintained a clear and consistent stand on respecting China’s sovereignty.
VIDEO | Delhi: Addressing press conference, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The External Affairs Minister said that, when it comes to sovereignty issues, it is actually India that should be, and is, raising them. India does not violate China's sovereignty in any manner… pic.twitter.com/TiQj0yDt3x
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 24, 2026
He said that if there is any concern over sovereignty, it is India that has the reason to raise the issue because China continues to occupy Indian land. According to Jaiswal, India has never acted in a way that violates China’s sovereignty and has remained consistent on this position.
India objects to Chinese activities in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
The MEA also pointed to China’s presence in parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, saying Beijing has been in illegal occupation of Indian territory since 1963.
Jaiswal said China itself officially recognises India’s rights over these areas, yet it continues to maintain its presence there. He also said China is carrying out projects in territories that belong to India in Jammu & Kashmir, and New Delhi has repeatedly objected to such activities.
Jaishankar and Wang Yi discuss bilateral ties
During their meeting, Jaishankar and Wang Yi reviewed the current state of India-China relations and discussed ways to improve market access and make global supply chains more reliable and resilient.
Jaishankar also stressed that normal relations between the two countries depend on peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), saying stability at the border remains essential for improving overall ties.
China calls for stronger cooperation
According to China’s official readout, Wang Yi said the recent improvement in India-China relations should be strengthened through more high-level meetings and closer cooperation in areas such as trade, culture, media, and people-to-people exchanges.
He also said both countries should work more closely in regional and multilateral forums and expressed China’s support for India hosting the BRICS Summit later this year.
BRICS Summit to be held in India
India is scheduled to host the BRICS Summit in September. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the meeting. If the visit takes place, it will be Xi’s first trip to India since the second informal India-China summit held in Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) in 2019.
