India lodges 'solemn protest' with China over creation of 'so-called counties' in Hotan prefecture

India on Friday said it has lodged a "solemn protest" with China over creation of two new counties in Hotan prefecture, asserting that such moves will not lend legitimacy to Beijing's "illegal and forcible" occupation in the region.

In a strong reaction, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said parts of these so-called counties fall in India's Union Territory of Ladakh and that the Chinese action will have no bearing on New Delhi's consistent position regarding its sovereignty.

China's announcement on establishing the two counties came days after special representatives of the two nations resumed boundary talks that were stalled for almost five years.

"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.

"We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area."

"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," Jaiswal added.

He further said: "We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels."

The latest irritant in ties came weeks after India and China ended an over four-and-a-half-year border standoff and announced steps to reduce mistrust. Following an understanding reached on 21 October, the two sides completed the disengagement of troops at the two remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks on the margins of the BRICS Summit in Russia on 23 October and agreed to revive various bilateral dialogue mechanisms, signalling an intention to normalise the relations.

At the nearly 50-minute meeting, Modi underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquillity in border areas.

Nearly four weeks later, the special representatives on the border issue — India's national security adviser Ajit Doval and China's foreign minister Wang Yi — held talks in Beijing.

It was the first dialogue under the framework of special representatives in nearly five years. During the talks, Doval and Wang focused on "positive" direction for cross-border cooperation, including resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, river data sharing and border trade.

Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI.