India on Tuesday firmly rejected China’s refusal to recognise the Union Territory of Ladakh, emphasising that Beijing’s objections cannot alter the established reality that the region remains an “integral and inalienable part” of the country.
The strong response from Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal followed comments by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who called India’s recent announcement of standard names for 28 strategic locations in Ladakh “illegal and invalid”.
Refuting Beijing’s stance, Jaiswal reiterated India’s sovereign position: “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 fact.”
The sharp exchange underscores lingering frictions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as both nations navigate fragile efforts to normalise diplomatic and economic ties.
The standoff, which began in 2020, has seen diplomatic and military discussions aimed at resolving long-standing boundary disputes while guarding national sovereignty.
