India and China verbally sparred again over name standardisation, this time Delhi taking a dig at Beijing over Ladakh sites.
The latest round began with China commenting on the issue and calling India's move earlier this month "illegal", which Delhi countered by saying that denial will not change facts.
Asked at the daily briefing for China's response to India's decision to standardise names of 28 places in Ladakh, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: "China has never recognised the so-called 'Union Territory of Ladakh' unilaterally and illegally established by India, and firmly opposes the so-called 'standardised names' publicised by India. This move by India is illegal and void...."
Among the 28 sites and geographical features along the China frontier in Ladakh which were identified by their standard names on the official map were Gogra and Hot Springs, where the Chinese army reportedly transgressed in 2020, leading to the Galwan stand-off.
India responded, reiterating that the Union Territory of Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of India. "No amount of denial by the Chinese side can change this established fact. As for the press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, which is being referred to, it is self-explanatory.... Identifying these places formally on the Survey of India map of UT of Ladakh is aimed at facilitating their accurate recognition and better awareness among the public at large," the external affairs ministry said.