China Affirms Claims Over Shaksgam Valley Amidst India's Concerns

China has reiterated its claims over the Shaksgam Valley, asserting the legitimacy of its infrastructure projects in the region, which India disputes. Meanwhile, former President Trump has controversially declared himself the acting president of Venezuela following a military operation that led to the abduction of President Maduro. The Supreme Court is also addressing allegations of irregularities in voter roll revisions in West Bengal. This article delves into these significant geopolitical developments.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 12, 2026, 20:03 IST

China's Stance on Shaksgam Valley

China has reaffirmed its claims regarding the Shaksgam Valley, asserting that the infrastructure initiatives it has launched in the contested area are 'beyond reproach.' This statement follows India's declaration that it retains the right to take necessary actions to protect its interests in the region, which it considers to be part of its territory.

Historically, the Shaksgam Valley has been a disputed area that was ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963, a move that India has never acknowledged. New Delhi has consistently raised objections to the infrastructure developments being carried out by China in this region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry's Remarks

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, emphasized that the Shaksgam Valley is an integral part of 'China’s territory.' She reiterated that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is designed to foster local economic growth and enhance living standards.

Trump's Declaration as Acting President of Venezuela

In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump shared a digitally altered image on social media, proclaiming himself the 'acting president' of Venezuela. The image was captioned: 'Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent – January 2026.'

This announcement follows a US military operation in Venezuela on January 3, which resulted in the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores. Following Maduro's capture, Venezuela’s Supreme Court instructed Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to take on the role of acting president.

Supreme Court's Inquiry into Election Commission

The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Election Commission regarding allegations made by Trinamool Congress MPs about procedural irregularities during the special intensive revision of voter rolls in West Bengal. The Election Commission has been granted a week to respond, while the next hearing is scheduled for January 19.

Rajya Sabha MPs Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen have raised concerns that booth-level officers were receiving instructions via platforms like WhatsApp, complicating the establishment of an audit trail. Sen has also claimed that arbitrary orders during the process led to the removal of eligible voters.

Issues with Electoral Roll Enumeration in Goa

The Election Commission has indicated that the enumeration forms submitted by former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Arun Prakash were missing essential information. Both Prakash and his wife have been marked as 'unmapped' in the draft electoral rolls published on December 16.

Prakash stated that he received a notice from the Election Commission despite a booth-level officer visiting their residence multiple times. He noted that the officer did not request any additional information during the enumeration process. Conversely, the Election Commission pointed out that Prakash’s forms lacked mandatory details, including the elector's name and identification number.

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