India protests China's creation of He’an and Hekang counties in Aksai Chin, Ladakh region
India has reportedly expressed serious concerns and lodged a formal protest with China over the creation of two new counties, He’an and Hekang, in the Hotan Prefecture, a region located in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. These counties are situated in areas that India claims as part of its union territory of Ladakh, specifically in the disputed Aksai Chin region. The Indian government’s protest is grounded in its long-standing position that it does not accept China's illegal occupation of these territories.
In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that India has never recognised China's unlawful occupation of Aksai Chin, which China has controlled since the Sino-Indian War of 1962. He stated, "The creation of new counties will neither change India's consistent and long-standing position on the matter nor legitimise China’s illegal occupation." India has communicated this stance through diplomatic channels to Beijing, reiterating that such administrative changes will have no bearing on India's sovereignty over the region.
The establishment of these counties in Hotan Prefecture has raised suspicions about China's intentions in the ongoing efforts to resolve border tensions between the two countries. This move follows a meeting between India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, and China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, in December 2024, aimed at discussing ways to ease tensions that have existed since the Galwan Valley clashes of 2020. Experts believe that this recent action by China undermines the progress made in these discussions and casts doubt on the sincerity of China’s commitment to peaceful negotiations.
The Hotan Prefecture, located in the Xinjiang region, is known for its strategic position, bordering Tibet to the south and Ladakh to the west.
India has also expressed concerns about China's plan to build a large hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra in India). This river flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, Indian states that could be heavily affected by alterations to its water flow. China's proposal to construct the world's largest dam on the river has raised alarms in India, as it could impact the downstream water supply to both India and Bangladesh
India’s protests regarding both the creation of new counties in Aksai Chin and the dam project on the Brahmaputra reflect its ongoing concern over China's expanding influence in disputed territories. As a lower riparian state, India is particularly sensitive to any actions by China that could affect its water security. The Indian government continues to monitor these developments closely and to take necessary steps to safeguard its territorial integrity and water resources.
