India Protests China’s Aksai Chin Counties

by The_unmuteenglish

Srinagar/Leh, 3 January 2025: India formally protested on Friday against China’s establishment of new counties, which India claims encroach on parts of Aksai Chin, a region in northeastern Ladakh under dispute.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.”

India reiterated that it has “never accepted” China’s claim over the disputed region.

Beijing’s recent announcement of the creation of two new counties, Hean and Hekang, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has sparked strong opposition from New Delhi. Reports suggest the jurisdiction of these counties extends into Ladakh.

Jaiswal emphasized, “The creation of these counties will not change India’s firm stance on its sovereignty over the area nor validate China’s unlawful occupation.”

Aksai Chin, claimed by India as part of its territory, has been under Chinese control since the 1950s. The dispute over the region was a significant factor in the 1962 Sino-Indian War. Tensions have remained high, with recent conflicts flaring up near Depsang, located just 40 kilometers west of Aksai Chin.

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