China on Tuesday declared India’s move to formally identify 28 geographical features in Ladakh “illegal and void”, prompting New Delhi to hit back with a blunt rejection of Beijing’s claims and assert that no amount of Chinese denial can change the Union Territory’s status as an integral part of India.
The diplomatic clash erupted after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning opposed India’s decision to standardise the names of 28 locations on the official Survey of India map. Responding to Beijing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Ladakh is an “integral and inalienable part of India” and dismissed China’s objections to the exercise.
“It is reiterated that the UT of Ladakh is an integral and inalienable part of India. No amount of denial by the Chinese side can change this established fact,” Jaiswal said on Tuesday, referring to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ announcement on the mapping exercise.
He added that the MHA’s announcement was self-explanatory and that the formal identification of the locations was intended to improve their recognition and public awareness.
India defends official mapping of 28 Ladakh locations
Earlier this month, the Centre announced that 28 places and geographical features in Ladakh had been identified using standardised names on the official Survey of India map.
According to the government, the exercise was undertaken in consultation with the Union Territory of Ladakh to establish consistent geographical references and improve public understanding of the locations.
“Government of India, in consultation with the Union Territory of Ladakh, has identified a total of twenty-eight (28) places/features, located in the UT of Ladakh, by standard place and feature names on the official map of the Survey of India (SoI),” an official statement said.
The statement added: “Identifying them 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 identified locations include mountain peaks, glaciers, passes, valleys, rivers, hot springs, lakes and land areas. Among them are Atisha Giri Peak, Kanishka Peak, Zorawar Peak, Parpik Glacier, Skamri Glacier, Shachmirk Pass, Shkorga Valley, Guru Rinpoche Lake and Gogra Land area.
Other locations include Drak Karpo Mountain, Rinchen Zangpo Peak, Sakyasri Giri Peak, Marpa Lotsava Ri Peak, Milarepa Kangri Peak and Maheshvara Ri Peak.
The government said the standardisation of geographical names was intended to ensure that the features could be accurately identified and consistently referenced on official maps.
Strategic and diplomatic significance of geographical names
The dispute highlights the wider significance of geographical naming and official cartography in territories affected by competing territorial claims.
Standardising the names of geographical features on government maps provides an official reference for administrative records, geographic identification and public information. In border regions, such exercises can also reinforce a government’s stated position on territorial jurisdiction.
India has previously objected to Chinese efforts to assign alternative names to locations in disputed border areas, including Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi has consistently rejected such naming exercises as attempts to advance territorial claims.
Beijing’s latest objection to the Ladakh mapping exercise adds another point of friction to the two countries’ longstanding border dispute.
India’s position, reiterated by the MEA on Tuesday, is that identifying geographical features on the official Survey of India map does not change the territory’s status but formally records locations within what New Delhi recognises as Indian territory.
The government has maintained that Chinese objections cannot alter India’s position on Ladakh’s territorial status.