- India asserts Ladakh is integral, inalienable part of country.
- China objects to India's naming of 28 Ladakh locations.
- India standardized names for accurate mapping by Survey of India.
India on Tuesday firmly reiterated that Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of the country after China refused to recognise the Union Territory, describing its establishment as unilateral and illegal.
The rebuttal came after China objected to the government's move to standardise the names of 28 strategic locations and geographical features in the Union Territory for official mapping.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central government, in consultation with Ladakh, formally identified 28 locations, including peaks, passes, land areas and water bodies, using standard place and feature names for inclusion on the official map of the Survey of India (SoI).
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that China had never recognised the so-called "Union Territory of Ladakh" unilaterally and illegally established by India and firmly opposed India's announcement of so-called standard names.
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"China has never recognised the so-called "Union Territory of Ladakh" unilaterally and illegally established by India and firmly opposes India's announcement of so-called standard names. The move is illegal and invalid and cannot change the fact that the relevant areas in the western sector of the China-India boundary have always belonged to China," Mao said.
Responding to China's remarks, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "It is reiterated that the UT of Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of India. No amount of denial by the Chinese side can change this established fact. As for the press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, which is being referred to, it is self-explanatory."
"The announcement mentions that the twenty-eight (28) places/features located in the UT of Ladakh have been identified with standard place and feature names on the official map of the Survey of India, and it has been done in consultation with the Union Territory of Ladakh and local stakeholders. Identifying these places formally on the Survey of India map of UT of Ladakh is aimed at facilitating their accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large," he said.
Which 28 Places Have Been Identified?
The Centre identified 28 places/locations in Ladakh by standard place and feature names on the official map of the Survey of India in order to recognise their geographical significance and for awareness of the general public about their exact location.
These 28 places/features identified on the Survey of India map of the Union Territory of Ladakh, are Atisha Giri Peak, Brangsa Land area, Chapchingal, Kanishka Peak, Karun Pir Mountain, Kuksel Land area, Martand Gir Peak, Parpik Glacier, Skamri Glacier, Shachmirk Pass, Shkorga Valley, Zorawar Peak, Dehra Compass Land area, Drak Karpo Mountain, Gogra Land area, Jolmori Mountain, Kumarayana Point Land ara, Panglung Land area, Rinchen Zangpo Peak, Sakyasri Giri Peak, Guru Rinpoche Lake, Shamal Lungpa Land area, River, Hot Spring Water body, Marpa Lotsava Ri Peak, Milarepa Kangri Peak, and Maheshvara Ri Peak.