Politics

“Ladakh is an integral part of India, no denial can change this”: MEA hits back at China over naming of 28 locations

Gogra, Hot Springs and 26 more: why India’s new names for Ladakh features have upset Beijing

October 13, 2026

India says Beijing’s objections will not change its position on Ladakh

China called India’s move illegal and said the western sector of the boundary has always belonged to it

India has firmly rejected China’s objections to the standardisation of names for 28 geographical features in Ladakh, repeating that the Union Territory is an integral and inalienable part of the country.

China’s objection

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing has never recognised the “so-called Union Territory of Ladakh,” which she described as unilaterally and illegally set up by India. She said China firmly opposes India’s announcement of “standard names” for the locations. In her view, the move is illegal and cannot alter the fact that the western section of the India-China boundary has always belonged to China.

India’s response

Replying to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “No amount of denial by the Chinese side can change this established fact.” He added that the Ministry of Home Affairs press release China is referring to is self-explanatory.

What the exercise covers

The 28 features India has identified include Gogra and Hot Springs, both of which were friction points during the 2020 border standoff between Indian and Chinese forces. The exercise is part of India’s effort to streamline official cartography and raise public awareness about sensitive border regions.

A familiar exchange

The exchange follows a pattern. China has repeatedly questioned India’s authority over Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, and India has consistently rejected such remarks. Border differences between the two countries remain a long-standing sore point, and New Delhi has made clear that China’s objections will not change its position on Ladakh or the official identification of its geographical features.

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