Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday said that India has lodged protest with China through diplomatic channels over the establishment of two new counties in the Hotan Prefecture since parts of their jurisdiction fall in the Union Territory of Ladakh. He further said that India has expressed its concern to China over the hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo river (Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra) and urged it to ensure that the interests of the downstream states are not affected by it.
In what is being seen as yet another move by China to assert territorial claim, the country created two new counties, one of which encompasses a major part of Indian territory.
Responding to a question over these two counties, 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.”
“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. We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” he added.
