China to boycott G20 meeting in Srinagar, calls it ‘disputed territory’

China has decided to boycott the G20 meeting in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, starting May 22, saying it is strongly opposed to the meeting being held in "disputed territory".

“China is firmly opposed to holding any form of G20 meeting in the disputed territory. We will not participate in such meetings," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Friday.

Media reports said that Turkey and Saudi Arabia decided to hold off on the meeting because they had not yet registered and it was highly unlikely that any status would happen at the last minute. Both China and Turkey are said to be close allies of Pakistan, which has repeatedly objected to the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

The 3rd meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group will be held from 22 to 24 May. It is the first international event to be held in Jammu and Kashmir after the Center revoked its special status by abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The meeting will be attended by more than 100 delegates, including 70 from member states.

Due to reports that terrorists may try to disrupt the event, elaborate security arrangements have been made in Srinagar and the Kashmir Valley. Safety checks are conducted at houseboats and facilities around Dal Lake. Security forces and central agencies are on a continuous crackdown against the terror network in the Union territory in the wake of the April 20 terror attack on an army vehicle in which five jawans lost their lives. Since then there have been numerous encounters and raids to neutralize the terrorists.

The National Investigation Agency on Saturday conducted searches at 15 locations in 7 districts as it cracked down on a terror network in the Valley. The searches were conducted at places in Srinagar, Pulwama, Awantipora, Anantnag, Shopian, Poonchh and Kupwara districts.