What Is Behind China’s Anger Over India’s New Border Maps?
News Desk
BEIJING: China has rejected India’s decision to rename 28 locations in disputed border areas, including Ladakh, and incorporate the new names into its official maps, describing the move as unilateral and illegal.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China did not recognise India’s unilateral actions, stressing that renaming locations could not change the ground realities or affect China’s sovereignty claims over the disputed territories.
The Chinese response follows an announcement by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the renaming of 28 locations and their inclusion in official Indian maps.
According to Beijing, the affected areas include locations under Chinese control as well as territories along the western sector of the disputed China-India border.
Mao reiterated that China would not accept India’s decision, arguing that the areas concerned had historically been part of China. Beijing maintains that unilateral administrative measures and changes to place names cannot establish sovereignty over disputed territory.
The latest exchange highlights the continuing tensions between the two Asian neighbours over their long-standing border dispute.
Ladakh, a strategically important Himalayan region, remains a key area of contention between China and India. The two countries have yet to formally demarcate their entire border, leaving several areas subject to competing territorial claims.
Changes to place names, official maps and administrative designations have repeatedly become sources of diplomatic friction, reflecting the broader disagreement over sovereignty and territorial boundaries.
China’s latest objection underscores the sensitivity surrounding the disputed frontier, where even administrative decisions can provoke strong diplomatic reactions.
It remains unclear whether the latest dispute will lead to further diplomatic exchanges or additional measures by either side.
