January 3, 2025: The Government of India has lodged a "solemn protest" with China over the latter's announcement of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture, parts of which fall within India's Union Territory of Ladakh. The move has been strongly condemned by India as a violation of its territorial sovereignty.

Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India's Union Territory of Ladakh."

Jaiswal reaffirmed India's long-standing position, emphasizing, "India has never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of the Indian territory in Ladakh. Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India's consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China's illegal and forcible occupation of the same."

The MEA spokesperson added that a formal protest has been conveyed to Beijing through diplomatic channels.

This latest development comes against the backdrop of a history of contentious claims by China over Indian territories. Beijing has repeatedly attempted to rename and reassert control over regions in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. In recent years, it has released multiple lists of "standardized" names for locations within India's borders—beginning with six places in 2017, followed by 15 places in 2021, and an additional 11 in 2023.

India has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining that such actions are "invented" and hold no legitimacy. "Assigning names to places does not and will not alter the reality of India's sovereignty over its territories," Jaiswal remarked.

This incident marks yet another flashpoint in the strained relations between the two Asian neighbors, with tensions over territorial disputes remaining a persistent challenge.