Ladakh integral part of India, MEA counters China

India on Tuesday rejected China’s contention that it has “never recognised” the Union Territory of Ladakh as well as its opposition to New Delhi’s naming of features in the region, and emphasised that the Chinese side’s actions cannot change the established fact that Ladakh is “an integral and inalienable part” of the country.China raised objections as the Central government identified and standardised the names of 28 strategic places in the Union Territory of Ladakh for official mapping.
On October 2, India formally identified 28 strategic locations and geographical features in Ladakh, including key border friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) such as Gogra and Hot Spring, on the official Indian map.The step, taken by the government in consultation with the Ladakh administration, aims at streamlining official cartography, facilitating precise identification, and fostering better public awareness of the sensitive border region
"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," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement."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 established fact," the Ministry underscored.
"China has never recognised the so-called "Union Territory of Ladakh" unilaterally and illegally established by India and firmly opposes India's announcement of so-called standard names. 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 as quoted by The Global Times.By establishing standardised names and incorporating these 28 key locations onto the Survey of India's official map, India has reinforced administrative clarity and territorial transparency, blunting China's claims.