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India has lodged a strong protest to China after it created two new ‘counties’ or municipal zones that has extended well into the territory of UT of Ladakh.

This is an “illegal occupation”, said Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Jaiswal while responding to media queries in his weekly presser on Friday the 3rd of January 2025 said  – “We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two counties in Hotan Prefecture e of China. Parts of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area.”

Jaiswal further added that this move on the sly by China will not affect India’s stance on sovereignty over the area, nor will it legitimize “China’s illegal and forcible occupation.”
“The creation of 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. We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” he added.
Last week, Chinese media Xinhua reported that the government of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region announced the establishment of two new counties in the region: He’an County and Hekang County.
The establishment of the counties, both administered by Hotan Prefecture.