India protests against China's new counties that include parts of Ladakh

India on Friday said it had lodged a protest with China over its creation of new counties which includes parts of Aksai Chin in northeast Ladakh in India.

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

“India has never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area,” Jaiswal added.

In a strong reaction, the MEA said creation of new counties would neither have a bearing 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.

“Last week, China announced creation of two new counties—Hean and Hekang—carved out of the restive Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh,” Jaiswal said.

Aksai Chin is under illegal Chinese control since 1950s. India claims it as its own. The 1962 war between the two countries included major battles on the western edge of Aksai Chin.

The more recent flashpoint of Depsang is located just 40 km west of Aksai Chin.