India opposes China’s formation of new counties with parts in Ladakh

India on Friday has protested the creation of two counties in China, parts of which come under India’s union territory, Ladakh, as per the Ministry of External Affairs.

A Chinese state news agency on Friday had reported the announcement of He'an a  nd Hekang counties in the Hotan Prefecture under the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, said that parts of these counties fell under Ladakh and that India has never accepted Chinese occupation in the Indian territory.

"We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels," said Jaiswal.

Moreover, the news agency on December 25 had reported the construction of a a hydropower project on Brahmaputra.

Jaiswal also stated that the Chinese side has been urged to keep the interest of downstream states in mind, and that the dam should not harm their interests.

He assured that necessary measures and monitoring is in place to protect the interests of downstream states.

The military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020 and was followed by a deadly clash at the Galwan Valley in June of that year resulting in a severe strain in ties between the two neighbours.

Barring trade, relations between the two countries virtually came to a standstill.

The face-off effectively ended following the completion of the disengagement process from the last two friction points of Demchok and Depsang under an agreement finalised on October 21.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)