- China to skip G20 meeting being held in the disputed region of Kashmir
- There have been three wars between India and Pakistan since 1947, following their independence from the United Kingdom
- Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced Beijing's non-attendance at the event
China is set to skip the G20 meeting scheduled in Kashmir, India, in September later this year as New Delhi has a territorial dispute for the region with Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.
Beijing and Islamabad have condemned New Delhi for scheduling the high-profile meeting in the disputed Himalayan territory. The region has been fought over between the two countries for some time.
China To Skip G20 Meeting in Kashmir, India
India and Pakistan claim that the region is entirely theirs but only legally govern some parts of the area. The two sides have fought three wars over Kashmir since their independence from the United Kingdom in 1947.
This year, India is the chair of the G20 and opted to organize a series of meetings across the country before the summit that will be held in New Delhi in September. On Friday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China would not be attending the G20 meeting as it is firmly opposed to it, as per Aljazeera.
Relations between India and Pakistan have stalled since 2019 after New Delhi changed the status of Jammu and Kashmir state. This move ended the region's special status and converted it into a federal territory.
Authorities split the state that created the two federal territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, a large portion of which is under Chinese control. The part of Kashmir that India controls has been experiencing a rebellion for decades that seeks independence or a merger with Pakistan. Tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers, and Kashmir rebels have been killed since the beginning of the conflict.
Furthermore, relations between Beijing and New Delhi have been strained since a military clash in 2020 in Ladakh, where 24 soldiers lost their lives. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, is set to host a meeting of the tourism working group for G20 members that is scheduled for May 22 to May 24.
Ongoing Territorial Dispute
In response to China's announced non-attendance to the G20 meetings in Kashmir, India said that as the chair for this year, it was free to hold meetings on its territory. On Friday, according to Reuters, authorities added that peace and tranquility on its border were essential for normalizing ties with Beijing.
Turkey echoed China's decision to skip the G20 meeting after Ankara criticized the Indian government's handling of the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan also called New Delhi's decision "irresponsible," Islamabad's foreign ministry said it was a self-serving move.
India is pushing through with handling the G20 meetings and has beefed up security in the Jammu and Kashmir region. This comes as this year, four attacks in the regions have already resulted in the death of 10 soldiers and seven civilians, said Business Today.
