China on Thursday slammed India's unilateral move to change administrative status of Kashmir and Ladakh, saying the move challenges China's sovereignty and is illegal and invalid. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang at a routine press conference. (Photo: Foreign Ministry website)

China voiced strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the India government's announcement that establishes the so-called new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, which includes Chinese territories in its administrative division, Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a routine press conference on Thursday. 

India's unilateral move challenges China's sovereignty by revising India's domestic law and administrative division, which is illegal and invalid. It will not change China's control of the region, Geng said. 

Geng urged the Indian side to respect China's territorial integrity and sovereignty, abide by related agreements between the two countries and take concrete action to maintain peace and stability of the border areas so as to create good conditions for both countries to properly solve the border issues. 

China's stance on the Kashmir issue is clear and consistent: it is a dispute left over from colonial history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements, Geng said, noting that relevant parties should settle disputes through dialogue and negotiation to maintain regional stability. 

India on Thursday officially implemented the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which designated two new Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, which are under direct rule of its central government after a proposal to its Parliament on August 5.