India questions two new counties set up by China

NEW DELHI: India has lodged protest with China after Beijing announced two new counties, parts of which, according to New Delhi, fall in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, officials said on Sunday.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry, said: “We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh.”This is the first time that the two Himalayan neighbours have publicly raised an issue of discomfort since Beijing and New Delhi moved to normalize ties late last year following a border pact along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC).

New Delhi’s statement came after Beijing last week announced the establishment of two new counties - He’an County and Hekang County - both of which are administered by Hotan Prefecture.