INDIA on Friday said it has lodged a “solemn protest” with China over creation of two new counties in Hotan prefecture, asserting that such moves will not lend legitimacy to Beijing’s “illegal and forcible” occupation in the region. In a strong reaction, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said parts of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh and that the Chinese action will have no bearing on New Delhi’s consistent position regarding its sovereignty.

 

China’s announcement on establishing the two counties came days after Special Representatives of the two nations resumed boundary talks that was stalled for almost five years. “We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh,” Jaiswal said. “We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area,” he said.

 

“Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India’s long-standing and consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China’s illegal and forcible occupation of the same,” Jaiswal added. He further said: “We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.” The latest irritant in ties came weeks after India and China ended an over four-and-a-half-year border standoff and announced steps to reduce mistrust. Following an understanding reached on October 21, the two sides completed the disengagement of troops at the two remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Russia on October 23 and agreed to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signalling an intention to normalise the relations.