The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India has lodged a "solemn protest" with China over the announcement of two new counties in China's Hotan Prefecture, which are parts of Ladakh.

Addressing a media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "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 that India has "never accepted" the illegal Chinese occupation of the Indian territory in Ladakh.

"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. We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels," he added.

Notably, this is not the first time that Beijing has laid claims to Indian territories in its map. In 2017, China had released the initial list of 'standardised' names for six locations in Arunachal Pradesh. In 2021, it released a second list comprising 15 places, with another list featuring the names of 11 additional places released in 2023.

Meanwhile, India has stayed firm in its rejection of China's attempt to claim Indian territories, asserting that assigning 'invented' names does not alter this reality.

Source: India Today