What is the latest India-China border dispute about?

India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Friday that it had sent a “solemn protest” to China over the establishment of two new counties in China’s Hotan Prefecture which include sections of Ladakh.

Speaking at a press conference, Randhir Jaiswal, a MEA spokesperson, “We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh.”

India has “never accepted” the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in Ladakh, according to Jaiswal.

“Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India’s long-standing and consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China’s illegal and forcible occupation of the same. We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” he stated.

According to Jaiswal, the government was aware that China was building a hydropower project on Tibet’s Yarlung Tsangpo River.

“As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory. These have been reiterated, along with need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries, following the latest report,” Jaiswal added.

According to him, efforts in upstream regions have pushed the Chinese side to make sure that the interests of the Brahmaputra’s downstream states are not jeopardized. “We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests,” Jaiswal added.

It is noteworthy that Beijing has already claimed Indian areas on its map. The first list of “standardized” names for six Arunachal Pradesh places was published by China in 2017. A second list with 15 spots was announced in 2021 and a third list with the names of 11 more spots was released in 2023.

Assignment of ‘fabricated’ names does not change the fact that India has remained steadfast in its rejection of China’s attempt to claim Indian lands.