India has raised serious concerns after China announced the establishment of two new counties in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, parts of which fall under India’s Union Territory of Ladakh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) conveyed its objection to China through diplomatic channels, emphasizing that these counties are situated in Indian territory that China has unlawfully occupied. The announcement, reported by Chinese state media Xinhua on December 27, revealed that the two counties – He’an County and Hekang County – will be administered by Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang.
India Protests China’s Creation of New “Counties” in Ladakh Region.
The Chinese government’s decision to create these counties was approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council. India, however, reiterated its position that it has never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of parts of Ladakh and has consistently opposed any efforts to alter the region’s status. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored that India’s sovereignty over Ladakh remains unaltered and that the establishment of these so-called counties will not legitimize China’s claims over the region. India has formally lodged a protest with the Chinese government in response to this development.
The new counties, He’an and Hekang, will have their respective county seats in Hongliu Township and Xeyidula Township. Despite this, India remains firm in its stance regarding the region’s sovereignty, asserting that China’s actions will have no bearing on India’s long-standing position.
India Raises Concerns Over China’s Hydropower Project on Brahmaputra
In addition to the border issue, India has also expressed its concerns regarding China’s ongoing hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River. According to Xinhua, China is building a major hydropower facility on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which flows through Tibet and is known as the Brahmaputra in India. India, as a lower riparian state, has established user rights to the waters of the river, and its government has consistently raised concerns through both expert-level and diplomatic channels. India fears that the construction of such large-scale projects on shared rivers may have significant downstream impacts, affecting water availability and livelihoods in the region.
As the situation develops, India continues to monitor China’s actions closely, emphasizing the need for cooperation between the two nations to safeguard mutual interests related to shared natural resources.
