MEA Reaffirms Ladakh Is an Integral Part of India, Rejects China’s Objections

New Delhi, October 13, 2026: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly rejected China’s objections to India’s decision to standardise the names of 28 locations and geographical features in Ladakh, reiterating that the Union Territory is an “integral and inalienable” part of the country.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that no amount of denial by China could change what India described as the established fact of its sovereignty over Ladakh. His remarks came after Beijing opposed India’s recent official mapping exercise.

China Objects to Naming of 28 Locations

The dispute follows an announcement by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on October 2 regarding the standardisation of names for 28 locations and geographical features in Ladakh.

According to Indian officials, the names were incorporated into the official Survey of India mapping process in consultation with the Ladakh administration and local stakeholders. The stated objective was to improve the accurate identification of these places and increase public awareness.

The locations include geographical features and areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including Gogra and Hot Spring, which have figured in the India-China border tensions.

MEA Rejects Beijing’s Claims

Responding to comments from China, Jaiswal reiterated India’s position that Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of the country.

The MEA also said the Home Ministry’s announcement regarding the mapping exercise was self-explanatory.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, meanwhile, said Beijing opposed India’s decision to assign standardised names to the locations. China described the move as “illegal and invalid” and reiterated its claims over areas in the western sector of the China-India boundary.

The opposing statements reflect the continuing disagreement between the two countries over territorial claims and the status of locations along the Himalayan border.

India-China Border Dispute Continues

Ladakh has remained a sensitive area in India-China relations, particularly since the military confrontation in eastern Ladakh in 2020. Both countries have held diplomatic and military-level talks aimed at addressing border issues and maintaining peace along the LAC.

The latest exchange highlights the continuing differences between New Delhi and Beijing over territorial claims and official geographical naming.

India maintains that Ladakh is an integral part of its territory, while China continues to contest aspects of India’s position in the western sector of the boundary.

Source: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), The Indian Express, The New Indian Express.