China opposes India’s announcement of names for disputed areas

Beijing has “never recognized the so-called ‘Union Territory of Ladakh’ unilaterally and illegally established by India and firmly opposes India’s announcement of so-called standard names,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters, according to state-run Global Times.

The remarks followed a statement by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs earlier this month announcing names for 28 places, including those in disputed border areas.

“The move is illegal and invalid and cannot change the fact that the relevant areas in the western sector of the China-India boundary have always belonged to China,” Mao said.

A military standoff between the two countries’ border forces in Ladakh, which began in 2019, lasted more than four years and pushed bilateral ties to their lowest point in six decades.