The working title of the story captures the core claim: ‘Ladakh Is India’: India Maps 28 Strategic Locations, China Calls Move ‘Illegal’. This framing reflects India’s assertion of sovereignty over the union territory and Beijing’s immediate criticism of the cartographic step.
The Indian government formally recognized 28 localities in Ladakh and added their standardized names to the Survey of India map. This step was taken to facilitate accurate recognition and public awareness.
#China has never recognized the so-called “Union Territory of Ladakh” unilaterally and illegally established by India and firmly opposes #India’s announcement of so-called standard names, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. Mao was responding to a question about a statement by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs announcing standard names for 28 places, including those in disputed border areas and places under China’s actual control, and their inclusion on official maps. 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.
The Ministry of External Affairs explained that the purpose of the exercise is to facilitate accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large. The quoted statement reads: "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."
Among the locations named are Gogra and Hot Springs, both of which are significant points of contention along the Line of Actual Control.
According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the identification of the 28 places and features was carried out in consultation with the Union Territory administration and local stakeholders. The consultation involved the UT administration and local stakeholders.
#NewsAlert | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterates that Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of India, stating that China’s denial cannot change this fact. He says 28 places and features in Ladakh have been formally identified on Survey of India maps in consultation with local stakeholders #IndiaChina #Ladakh #MEA
Among the locations named are Gogra and Hot Springs, both of which are significant points of contention along the Line of Actual Control.
Beijing has argued that it owns the western regions of the border, while New Delhi has maintained that the naming process involved local stakeholders and the UT administration. During a weekly media briefing, Randhir Jaiswal dismissed China’s objection, reiterating that no amount of denial by the Chinese side can change the established fact regarding Ladakh’s status.
Our response to media queries regarding comments made by the Chinese side on Ladakh. 🔗 https://t.co/guiOKfNImD https://t.co/V1tk6dkIKH
The spokesperson’s remarks were succinct: "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." This statement encapsulates India’s position that Ladakh’s incorporation is non‑negotiable.
The naming of the 28 locations has been added to the Survey of India map.