China objects to Ladakh's formation as UT; India says do not comment on 'internal affairs'

China on Tuesday objected to the formation of Ladakh as Union Territory by India, saying it undermined its territorial sovereignty, evoking a sharp reaction from New Delhi, which asked Beijing to refrain from commenting on its "internal affairs".

With the government bifurcating Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories --Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh-- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China has always opposed to India's inclusion of the Chinese territory in the western sector of the China-India boundary into its administrative jurisdiction.

Reacting strongly, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said,"the J-K Reorganization Bill 2019, introduced by the government in Parliament on 5 August, which proposes the formation of a new 'Union Territory of Ladakh' is an internal matter concerning the territory of India. India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise."

While ...