The Indian Government on Friday responded sharply to the recent bid of China to create two new counties, including one incorporating a large part of India’s territory that is illegally occupied in Aksai Chin.
“We never accepted illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area,” said Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, the Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs on China establishing two new counties in Hotan prefecture.
In a fierce reaction, New Delhi said the creation of new counties will neither have any change on India’s long-standing and consistent position regarding its sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China’s “illegal and forcible” occupation of the same.
Mr. Randhir Jaiswal said that India has never admitted the “illegal” Chinese occupation of Indian territory in the area. He further added, “We have seen the declaration pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh.”
He remarked, “We have never acknowledged the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area.” Jaiswal added, “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.”
He further stated, “We have filed a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels.”
