India lodges protest with China over announcement of 2 new counties, parts of which are in Ladakh

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said India has lodged a “solemn protest” with China over the establishment of two new counties in the Hotan prefecture since parts of these regions fall under the Union territory of Ladakh.

On December 27, Chinese state media Xinhua reported the people’s government of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region announced the establishment of two new counties in the region - He'an County, and Hekang County.

The establishment of the counties, both administered by Hotan Prefecture, has been approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, the report added.

"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," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing a media briefing.

Jaiswal said India has never accepted the "illegal" Chinese occupation of Indian territory in the 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 further.

The county seat of He'an is Hongliu Township, while the county seat of Hekang is Xeyidula Township, Chinese state media reported.