India has strongly objected to China’s recent claims presented in the “standard map,” dismissing them as baseless attempts to assert authority over Indian territory. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned these actions, emphasizing that such maneuvers from the Chinese side would only further complicate the ongoing boundary dispute resolution.
Arindam Bagchi, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, communicated India’s protest through diplomatic channels, addressing the 2023 “standard map” released by China. The map, published on August 28, asserts China’s control over regions like Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as South Tibet, and Aksai Chin, which it occupied during the 1962 conflict.
China’s map also lays claims to Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea, incorporating its contentious nine-dash line concept that encompasses a significant portion of the South China Sea. Notably, other countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei also have competing claims in the South China Sea.
This map release coincided with China’s celebration of Surveying and Mapping Publicity Day and the National Mapping Awareness Publicity Week. The map was unveiled by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources in Deqing county, Zhejiang province.
Recent talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, highlighted India’s concerns about unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Prime Minister Modi emphasized the necessity of maintaining peace and respect for the LAC to normalize India-China relations. Both leaders agreed to instruct relevant officials to accelerate efforts in disengagement and de-escalation.
This incident is not the first time China has employed such tactics. Earlier in the year, China unilaterally “renamed” various Indian locations, including mountain peaks, rivers, and residential areas.
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