India on Friday strongly rejected China’s repeated attempts to raise sovereignty issues in official statements after bilateral meetings. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India has never violated China's sovereignty. It added that China continues to illegally occupy Indian territories in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and has carried out infrastructure projects in these regions despite India's objections.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks during a regular press briefing while responding to a Chinese statement issued after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila on Wednesday. The Chinese readout claimed that Jaishankar had assured Beijing that India respects China's sovereignty, including on matters related to Taiwan and Tibet. However, people familiar with the discussions said the external affairs minister made no such remarks during the meeting.

Responding to a question on the issue, Jaiswal said, “Let me say that the external affairs minister said that when it comes to sovereignty issues, it is actually India that should be and is raising them.”

He further said, “India does not violate China’s sovereignty in any manner and has been consistent, but China is in illegal occupation of Indian territories in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963, where India’s right is officially acknowledged even by China.”

Jaiswal also referred to Chinese infrastructure activities in areas that India considers its own territory. He said, “Also, there are Chinese projects in territories in Jammu and Kashmir that belong to India, and we object to that.” His remarks referred to Chinese projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and developments in the occupied Shaksgam Valley.

India has consistently opposed CPEC since a significant part of the project passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India claims as its own territory. India also maintains that China is in illegal occupation of more than 43,000 square kilometres of Indian land in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. This includes Aksai Chin and the Shaksgam Valley. Recent reports have also suggested that China has started new infrastructure projects in the Shaksgam Valley.

The Chinese foreign ministry's statement after the Manila meeting attempted to present Jaishankar's position on sovereignty-related issues. It claimed that he had reiterated India's unchanged stand on Taiwan and Xizang, the Chinese name for Tibet. The readout stated, “India’s position on such issues as Taiwan and Xizang remains unchanged. India respects China’s sovereignty and has always pursued a positive and cooperative bilateral relationship with a forward-looking approach.”

However, people familiar with the discussions said Jaishankar did not make these remarks. According to them, this is the third time in recent months that China's foreign ministry has attributed comments to senior Indian leaders that do not match India's official record of the meetings.

A similar situation had emerged after a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi on June 22. China had issued a readout that differed from India's account of the talks. The MEA later issued a clarification stating that Doval had “emphasised the importance of sensitivity being consistently displayed to each other’s issues of core concern”. The ministry also said this reflected India's broader approach of mutual sensitivity, mutual interests and mutual respect in its relationship with China.

During the meeting in Manila, Jaishankar also stressed the need for peace and stability along the India-China border. He said normal bilateral ties can progress only when there is peace and tranquillity in the border areas. He also raised India's concerns over fair access for Indian businesses to Chinese markets, balanced trade between the two countries, and greater predictability in supply chains.

India has repeatedly stated that its relationship with China must rest on mutual respect and recognition of each other's core concerns. The latest response from the MEA signals New Delhi's firm stand against what it sees as attempts by Beijing to misrepresent discussions between senior leaders. India has also reiterated that unresolved boundary issues and China's continued presence in Indian territory remain central concerns in bilateral relations.