On Tuesday, a strong protest with China was lodged by India on the latest map unveiled by China claiming Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin to be their own territories.
The ministry of external affairs stated that they had lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels with the Chinese side on the so called 2023 “standard map” of China that laid claim to India’s territory and said that the claims were rejected as they had no basis. Such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary question.
A massive controversy occurred after the release of the 2023 edition of its ‘standard map’ by the People’s Republic of China, and making its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin region, Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Despite India’s repeated stand that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and continues to be an integral part of the country, the map was released.
Global Times, the Chinese website posted on ‘X’ saying, ” The ‘standard map’ has been compiled based on the drawing method of the national boundaries of China and various countries in the world.”
China’s claims to the estranged island of Taiwan and the nine-dash line, which claims a large part of the South China Sea, were also included in the map. Beijing has always claimed Taiwan as part of its mainland and its integration with the mainland is part of an objective vowed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Days before the scheduled G20 meeting in New Delhi, where several world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping will take part, this latest provocation comes from China.
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jinping at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg for a brief moment. The PM had highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues along the LAC. Vinay Kwatra, the foreign secretary said that the prime minister underlined that the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas, and observing and respecting the LAC were essential for the normalisation of the India-China relationship.